Never ever

What if someone told you will never ever have another student falling behind?   You will never ever have another angry parent come to your classroom door. You will never ever have another student with a challenging behavior.  What do you feel?  Relief?  Confidence?  Peace?

I was driving to work today when Kristian Stanfill’s “One Thing Remains” came on the radio.

He sings:

“On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains”

When I started relating the lyrics to thoughts about teaching and what never ever would mean in that context, the line “I never, ever, have to be afraid” boggled my mind.  Never ever.   I never ever have to be afraid.  It’s not likely I will never have a student falling behind, or an angry parent, or a challenging behavior, but there is a “never ever” I can hold on to.  Because of God’s great love for me, for His people, I never ever have to be afraid.

 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Roman 8:14-17 NIV

Now have I heard this truth before?  Of course.  I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home surrounded by the Word of God and His promises, but maybe it’s like growing up in a time where everyone knows the world is round.  You get it.  The world’s round. But maybe when you get on a plane, travel halfway around it and don’t fall off, you get it.  I think I got it today, and I’m grateful. Never doubt when God can take an ordinary moment and make it into something extraordinary.  And don’t doubt God’s love.  You never ever have to be afraid. 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39 NIV