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“Those who fling soul and body down in joyful abandonment to whatever choice the Father may make for them, rest in the confidence that God will make no errors, in timing or anything else.” – Elisabeth Elliot
So you’ve decided to homeschool your kids. You truly believe that this choice is one that God wants for you and your family. Are you scared? Definitely! But you are also super excited because you feel so right about it. You can’t wait to start and watch your babies learn and thrive within the walls of your home (or maybe in your backyard, if that’s more your thing 😉 ).
But, then, life hits. You realize that homeschooling is actually really hard, as is anything that’s worth doing. It takes so much dedication, determination, and perseverance, not to mention the incredible amount of patience. You’ve cried a few times or at least wanted to.
Can I just tell you that you’re not alone? In fact, you’re far from alone. Not only are you very much in a community of moms who’ve all felt the fears, pressures, and discouragement that you’re feeling, but you are also not alone within your own home. God led you to this place, and He has not left you here, even in the midst of the challenges. Dare I say, especially in the midst of challenges He is with you.
1. Surrendering fully.
The above quote was the inspiration for this post, and I’d love to just break it down, phrase by phrase. I saw it as being by Elisabeth Elliot, but I’m not for sure she is the one who said it since I was unable to find it in any other place. That said, it starts by saying “Those who fling soul and body down in joyful abandonment to whatever choice the Father may make for them…”
Is that what you have done? Now, if you are already homeschooling your littles, then you have obviously committed pretty heavily to this whole “home education” process. That said, have you done it whole-heartedly with “joyful abandonment” to God’s leading? It is a calling. Homeschooling is not for everyone. Yet, in the midst of this journey, if you believe it is what God has chosen for your family, then this homeschooling process is your calling and your ministry. Embrace it with a full heart of joy! Choose to fully surrender to the Lord with a heart that is completely aware of your own strengths and weaknesses.
With all of this in mind, I believe it is also important to remember that surrendering fully also includes surrendering our ideas and expectations of what we believed homeschooling would be for us. Oftentimes, our expectations do not match what really happens, especially in something like homeschooling, yet, being fully surrendered to God means giving Him our expectations and disappointments when our expectations don’t match our realities.
2. Resting in confidence.
What a beautiful, little thought. Are you “resting in confidence” knowing that God makes no mistakes? He has a beautiful plan for each and every one of your babies, and He loves them more than you do. Because of this fact, you can rest in His plan. Trust His heart, even when your expectations fail. He is not surprised by any challenge that arises in your homeschooling journey.
It can be difficult to truly rest in the midst of hard things, but it really is possible to find rest and peace in knowing God is able and still in control.
“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:8-11
That verse says, that because God is with me, “my flesh also shall rest in hope.” We can learn to rest in God, in hope and confidence. He is able to help you in your homeschool process. He brought you here, and He has not abandoned you. I challenge you to bring your challenges, attitudes, and burdens to Him and find “rest in hope” and confidence as you learn to trust God and the process that has been laid before you.
3. Trusting the process.
Now, there is a caveat here. When you first begin homeschooling, it is important to put a process in place. Do your research. Find a curriculum that you trust along with a method that is proven and personal to your family. There are methods that are more risky, in my opinion. With that said, when you’re starting, I’d recommend choosing a more conventional method such as Charlotte Mason or even Classical over methods like Unschooling or piecing Unit Studies together without a guide. It’s important to know what you are getting into, and it can be easier to ease into homeschooling with a more “rigid” process that gives you lots of help and guidance as you learn what you want and what works for you.
After working with an already proven path, from there, if you decide to choose a more freestyle method, you can definitely branch out and be creative with your own homeschooling process. Though you must have a process to start with, the possibilities are truly endless! And, with that said, once you have chosen a reliable process, trust that it will work in time. Don’t get discouraged when you and your children have a bad day or even a bad week. Trust that, as you work each week, the process is helping your children develop and grow even when the progress isn’t completely obvious from day to day. In time, you will look back and see how far you have truly come.
It can be tough when you are dealing with the day to day tasks of the homeschooling process, but I encourage you to look at the big picture, fully surrender your expectations and need for control, and find rest in hope and confidence in God. Trust the homeschooling process. Trust the God who you believe wants you to homeschool your children.
I pray that this little message has been an encouragement to you today as you continue plugging along with your homeschooling. It will all be worth it in the end. You’ve got this!
Until next
