Homeschooling is hard. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Sometimes as homeschooling moms, we face discouragement and disappointment throughout the school week. Yet, I’m here to remind you of the promises of encouragement for the discouraged!
It doesn’t matter whether your children are cyber schooled, use boxed curriculum or mostly online resources. We all struggle with doubts. Are we doing the right thing? Is it worth the years of sacrifice on only one income? Then, we start comparing our kids to others. It’s a slippery slope to go down but there are ways to combat these negative thoughts! Focus on the promises.
What are these promises and where are they? In God’s word! It’s filled with promises of encouragement, edification, and exhortation.
Now is the time to get excited about our unique calling. Not everyone has been called to homeschool their children. Let’s not forget how blessed we really are and thateach child has special gifts given directly by God.
At the end of our lives, we won’t be saying “I wish I would have kept working”. NO!!! Instead, we will be saying “I’m thankful to have spent all day, every day with my kids!”.
Now that I have straightened you out (yes, I need a reminder too!) — let’s go right to the source. The Bible! God’s word will tell us how we can calm our mind, soul, and spirit. It’s time for a little homeschool encouragement and homeschool inspiration!
Rather, let’s first read Philippians 4:6-7
Now we’ll break it down. ‘Be careful for nothing’ means — don’t worry! Instead, PRAY and THANK the Lord for your blessings. Then, TELL your fears to the Lord.
Work on creating a daily habit by planning morning devotions before you begin each day. Make sure your routine includes reading the bible, not just reading devotionals.
The word in Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Now that’s a serious promise!
Turn on some spiritual music to lift up your spirits and sing along giving praises to God. Colossians 3:16 says to teach one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Also, sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Make sure this music is pleasing to the Lord, and not focused on pleasing yourself. He is to be glorified in everything we do, including our music selection.
Do you find yourself discontent with your finances, home, or situation? In the last few years, I’ve observed that our society lives in a constant state of discontentment.
We’re not happy with our spouse, our children, or any of our possessions. Plus, the house is too small, our car is too old and our smartphone needs an upgrade.
So how do you find contentment in an ‘instant gratification’ society?
When Paul was struggling with a “thorn in his flesh”, he tells us the Lord’s response. In 2 Cor. 12:9-10, He says to Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” …Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
He makes us perfect in our own weaknesses!
In 1 Timothy 6:6-12, it also says godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Simply put, let’s be content just to have food and clothing. Period. We are not going to take any possessions with us when we leave this earth.
At the end of our life, are we going to wish our children learned more in their Latin lessons and spent more time with creative crafts? NOPE. As parents, we are instructed in the Bible in Deuteronomy 11:19 to teach our children about God.
How much? When we are sitting down, walking, lying down, and when we get out. In other words, teach our children about the Lord all of the time!
If we are doing this, we are teaching them the truth. That’s all they need to know. Everything else is just a bonus.
Focus on teaching your children the truth. The truth will set you free from doubt, worry, and discouragement.
I could tell you so many other tips on how to get yourself out of a homeschool discouragement slump.
Tips like:
However, the Bible is more than enough. That’s where you’ll find promises of encouragement for the discouraged.
And, I like it simple, so simple I’m going to give you:
Until next time, my friends. I just prayed for you, my readers, to have special blessings of homeschool encouragement and inspiration as we go through this earthly journey together. Amen.
Natalie Fullmer is married with two children. After leaving her IT career in the healthcare industry, she decided to stay home full-time and homeschool both children. She is a blogger on two websites, works as a Virtual Assistant for other bloggers, member of the Homeschool Review Crew, and teaches English to Chinese children. Besides homeschooling, her passions include raising animals on her mini-farm, reading non-fiction, gardening, learning the latest tech, and sharing her minimalist approach with other homeschool moms on her blog Content With Simple. Her favorite bible verse for encouragement is Philippians 4:13.
