Renewing Strength

I have the greatest Sunday School kids in the world. I always have. I am truly in love with all of them that is a love that can only come from God. I have taught Sunday School to all ages, but my favorite age group to teach is grades 6-12. Now about 20 years ago had you told me that I would have shrieked and ran the other direction. People have an unnecessary fear of that age group (particularly grades 6-8) seeing them as transitioning between childhood and adulthood with fluctuating maturity. While that is true, that doesn't make them scary. It makes them precious. I was asked years ago to help a friend teach the younger youth and really questioned if I would be able to handle it. After all, I'm pretty strict. I command respect and obedience, and this age group typically bucks both. But I found their maturity level right on par with my own and a match was made in heaven. I learned quickly what this age group needs most is to be loved. And if you do so wholeheartedly, they will respect and obey. It's what the Lord expects from us after all. And, boy, do I love them. They are so beautiful inside and out. And it is pure delight for me to watch them grow in faith.

Recently one of my kids sent me a message on Facebook asking me to pray for his sibling, which I was glad to do. He had mentioned this sibling had made a few poor choices in anger ... as sometimes we are all prone to do. I told him I was praying his sibling would seek God's wisdom, as I know this child's brilliant understanding of Scripture and faith and hoped for refocusing. I commented because of this person's great faith, Satan would work extra hard to derail it. And I ended by encouraging this sweet intecessor that because of his faith, Satan would be working on him as well and that he should armor up. Imagine my surprise when he said, "I'm reading now!" He was immersing himself in Isaiah chapters 38-40, the last of which says in verses 30-31 "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Not long after this conversation, this child faced two situations where that armor proved necessary. In one instance he was discussing with friends the importance of sharing the Gospel with non-believers. They disagreed with him when he said it was each believer's responsibility to share the Good News, backing his statement up with Christ's command in His Great Commission in Matt. 28:19-10. Then later when being picked on by other students who taunted him by saying he had no friends, he commented, "All I need is Jesus, and Jesus is all I have." Hearing these two back-to-back stories was the highlight of my week. Here was a child facing questions of discipling and adversity and supporting his decisions by Scripture and faith.

There is no doubt in my mind that when you are growing in faith, growing God's Kingdom and glorifying Him that Satan will ask the Lord - like he did about Peter in Luke 22:31 - if he can sift us like wheat. We need to armor up Scripturally so we're prepared in advance for that so our faith will not fail. My young Sunday School student had prepared his heart and mind for both situations. He hoped in the Lord and was renewed in strength. Glory to God. What a fine example for all of us!

I told you I have the greatest Sunday School kids in the world.