This morning during my time with God, I read the daily devotional from the YouVersion Bible App that goes along with the daily Scripture. It reminded me that even in hard seasons, suffering is not the end of our story. God is working. Perseverance produces character. Character strengthens hope. And hope does not disappoint — because His love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. It encouraged me, and I felt led to share it with you. ⬇️ Joy in Hard Times Nobody enjoys suffering. It’s hard to find joy in the midst of trials or difficult seasons—it’s much easier to feel sadness or misery. That’s why Paul’s encouragement in Romans 5 may sound contradictory. Paul was writing this to the church in Rome experiencing suffering from ungodly rulers, and yet he encourages them to rejoice in their suffering. It wasn’t enough to just endure suffering—he tells them to have joy. Paul knew that it wasn’t natural to be joyful in hard times, but through the work of Jesus, Christians have peace with God and access to faith (Romans 5:1-2). Faith allows us to hold onto the hope that suffering isn’t the end of our story. Because we know that God works within our difficult situations, we can have patience and perseverance for God to complete His work. Perseverance refines our character. As we wait on God, we become people who look more like Jesus, and our trust in God grows stronger. This increases hope within us. It’s not easy to have hope when you're suffering. But as we trust in God, we are strengthened to continue to endure. When we look at suffering from God’s perspective, we begin to realize that He is working to bring glory to Himself in every situation. God has shown us through the Holy Spirit that He loves us. He suffered and gave Himself for us so that we could have a relationship with Him, and He will continue to give us everything we need to live a life that honors Him. So consider how God is working in your life, even through difficult seasons. Think about the ways God has poured His love into you through the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for strength to persevere, and let that perseverance develop into a strong character that hopes and trusts in God even in hard times. And when persevering gets difficult, hold onto this truth: God has given everything for you, and He will never leave your side.

💛 You’re not just teaching — you’re taking territory. 💜 You’re not just managing a classroom — you’re shifting atmospheres. 💛 Even on challenging days, you are still anointed, appointed, and assigned for such a time as this. Your classroom is Kingdom ground.

As we step into February, we’re slowing down in a different way. Last month we talked about alignment — releasing what’s heavy, listening for God’s direction, and moving forward in obedience. But here’s what God has been gently pressing on my heart: 💜 We cannot respond well from emptiness. 💛 We cannot pour into our students from a place where we feel dry. 💜 We can’t give what we haven’t first received. So this month is about receiving the Father’s love, His peace, His reassurance, and His truth about who we are. Because when we are rooted in His love, we don’t lead from pressure — we lead from overflow. If you haven’t walked through A Sacred Pause: 3 Days of Prayer, I encourage you to start there. It’s a gentle reset — a space to release what’s heavy before stepping into this month’s focus. 💜 Here’s what we have coming up: ✨ Pause + Pray Call (Open to All) Monday, February 9th at 6:30 PM EST on Zoom 📘 February Pause + Pray Toolkit Available inside Teaching With Jesus 180 on the day of the call. This month’s toolkit will walk deeper into receiving the Father’s love with guided prayer points and reflection. Let’s receive first — and then give from overflow. 💛

If we fix our minds on frustration, it will spill over. But if we fix our minds on God’s truth, His Spirit will overflow into every word, response, and moment in our classrooms. This week, I encourage you to see the good in each day. Rejoice over what’s going right. When the worries, burdens, and challenges try to weigh you down, give them to God. Ask Him how to handle them but don’t sit and rehearse the problem. Instead, meditate on His promises and the evidence of His faithfulness. Shift your focus. Guard your thoughts. Choose truth. And when you get a chance, listen to “Goodness of God.” Let it remind you that He has been faithful — and He still is. 💛💜

The change we desire in our classrooms truly begins with us. When we stay anchored in His Word, connected to the Vine, watching our words, and depending on Him… He shifts the atmosphere through us. Let this song remind you: we are intercessors. We have the authority to shift the tone of our classroom by first shifting our hearts.