Trusting that My Turn Will Come

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” Matthew 6:31-33 ESV

“I want to pass out the dry erasers!” exclaimed Sarah as she excitedly bounced in her chair.

“No, Dr. Dace, Sarah passed out the markers yesterday. It’s my turn,” argued Annie. She crossed her arms in frustration.

“Ugh. Why do you girls always get to go first?” A.J. asked. Shaking his head, he mumbled to himself, “I guess I will pass out the dry erase sentence strips.”

Fear over not receiving the same opportunity as your peers is a big deal when you’re in kindergarten.

I summoned all the patience I could muster with only two weeks of school remaining. “Everyone will get an opportunity to pass out our supplies just like we do every day. You don’t have to worry about not getting an opportunity to help.”

After spending a year working with kindergartners, I understand why there is a saying, “Everything I needed to know in life, I learned in kindergarten.” If you looked at my lesson plans, you would see notes about the letters and words we practiced each day. However, something just as crucial to master is believing that you don’t have to worry about being left out.

I wish I could say as an adult these feelings of insecurity magically vanished. As adults, we may not argue with another over who gets to pass out the dry erase markers. However we might worry whether we will enjoy the same attention, accolades, and opportunities as our peers.

As I cleaned up our materials and walked my kindergartners back to class, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33 ESV).

As I rally my students to trust that I have their best interest at heart, the Holy Spirit reminds me God has my best interest at heart as well. He inspires me to create a new go-to script for when I fear that my turn isn’t coming: I will trust that the Lord knows all of my needs. I will confidently believe that He will give me the opportunities He created for me to fulfill.

These words may not change my immediate insecurity, however it does change my perspective to look beyond the “here and now” to embrace His kingdom’s mindset.

*This post was originally shared on The Round Farmhouse Ministries Facebook and Instagram accounts on September 5. If you want to read more encouraging words like this, check out their social media accounts! (P.S. The educator in me also wants to be sure to add that the specific names and identifying details included in this blog have been changed to protect the identity of my students.)