DAY 4: SUFFERING AS A TEACHER
Read 2 Timothy 1:11; Acts 21:27-29.
Suffering as a teacher? Really, do teachers suffer? If you’ve ever taught a class, you know that half the battle of teaching is in the classroom: keeping the students engaged and keeping the material relevant. It can be a painful experience not just for the students (J) but for the teacher as well. The other half of the battle is the impact of the teaching. Most teachers recognize that life change is the ultimate purpose of bible teaching. In our passage today from the book of Acts, we see a crowd of people who are violently opposed to Paul’s teaching. What they claim is true, although they understood within the framework of their own resistant attitudes. Ultimately they are opposed to the changes in Jewish tradition. For people to follow Paul’s teachings meant they would trade in their old wineskins for new wineskins. Perhaps the most difficult part of teaching is the impact it can have on people’s lives (which is a good thing), but not to the liking of others. When people change, others can feel threatened by the change, even if the change is good. As teachers today in our society, we may not feel the suffering of Paul. People generally don’t try to take down teachers for the threat of their teaching! So how do we suffer as teachers in our various capacities?
I was talking with Lyanne about this (since she is an elementary school teacher), and she shared that as a teacher you want your students to succeed. Sometimes a student will come through and a teacher will work hard to help the student overcome difficult challenges. As a teacher, sometimes you can see a student’s situation leading to a difficult if not tragic future. Such was the case with one of Lyanne’s students who when reaching middle school was arrested for some serious crimes. (Sadly, this has happened with more than one student.) In many respects, there is suffering in knowing a former student did not go on to succeed. There is suffering in feeling that you could have done something to prevent it. There is suffering in believing that your efforts were in vain.
Parents can experience even greater suffering of this kind as teachers of their children. A child may grow to ignore the advice and warnings of their parents. Bad decisions can lead to disappointed parents. What parent doesn’t suffer when their child makes unhealthy choices? Another difficult area is when children don’t want to obey the instruction or discipline of their parents. They can come to resent their parents. How difficult it is to hear the words from a child, “I hate you!”
Anytime a teacher (whether a parent, a classroom teacher, a supervisor, a mentor, etc.) tries to bring about life change in their teaching, there is bound to be some amount of suffering. As said yesterday, we ought not be surprised. As Paul did, we must continue to instruct those under our care despite any negative effects. We must remember that our instruction will far outweigh any suffering we might experience. It is also good to consider that if not for our instruction, things could be far worse for our “students”. Your efforts are never in vain. Persevere in your teaching and pray for God to work through it!
