A Reality Check

Sometimes, what we think God would want us to do is not always the case. That is why we should pray about everything and be led by the Holy Spirit. I will give you an example from my own mistake, in hopes it will help you with any decision you have to make. My family and I had been going to a particular church for about seven years, when they started a Christian school on the church campus. My sons were in high school and on the football team, so I knew they would not want to change schools. But my daughter was still in Elementary school (5th grade), so I thought this would be great for her. Although when they announced the openings they had, I didn’t say anything to her, because I wanted her to decide if this was what she wanted to do. My daughter always hated school, any excuse she could find to get out of going, she would use. So later on that day, she came to me and said she would like to go to our Church’s school. I was so excited, I thought this would be perfect for her. I didn’t pray about it, I automatically thought this was God’s will, and of course, he would want all children to go to a Christian school. So I went to my husband at the time, and we discussed the financial matters, because It was going to cost a substantial amount. His only requirement, was she had to go for the whole semester whether she liked it or not. We lived an hour away from the church, so I had to drive twenty minutes every morning and evening to meet the bus. I was so excited the first day, I picked her up after schooI. I couldn’t wait to hear all about her day. She got in the car and as soon as we pulled away she started crying and saying how much she hated it. I felt like I was gonna be sick. I knew the fight I would have at home with my husband, if this didn’t work out. So I reminded her of the agreement she made and that she had to go for the whole semester. From that day on, she cried all the way to the bus and I cried all the way home. This went on for a couple of months. It was a nightmare I could not seem to wake up from. During this time, I was crying out to God to help me. I wanted to pull her out of this place, but my husband would not budge on his decision, and in order to keep peace with him, I had to make her go. One following weekend, she came begging me with tears streaming down her face, to please not send her back there. I went to my prayer closet and cried out to God. I had all I could take. I kept hearing my friend’s name over and over in my mind. She had been a substitute teacher at the Christian school, and God was telling me to call her. Once I got her on the phone and told her my dilemma, she shocked me with her answer. She said she would never send her kids there, that they were running this school like an Army Boot camp. After all the details, I had her talk to my husband and then he changed his mind. I pulled her out the next day, which was also a nightmare, because I was told by the leaders in the church, that I was making a big mistake. After this, nothing was the same for us there, and we ended up leaving this church. Once this miserable lesson (the semester from hell) was over, the Lord spoke to me and said, “if I take the light out of the public schools, there will only be darkness!” This taught me a huge lesson! Always pray about everything and wait for God’s answer. Just because you think God would do something a certain way, doesn’t mean he will! God also told me: It is my will to be done. Do not be led by what you feel or think is right. That is of the flesh. Being led by the flesh is of no value to me. Listen and be led by the Holy Spirit, then you will be pleasing to me and you will bear much fruit for the kingdom of God.