Believing that you can be thankful only if things go your way gives the devil a chance to work in your life. Instead, God tells you that your attitude is based on what HE wants to work in you!

“I can’t STAND him!”

“I never get to play!”

“She’s the worst teacher ever!”

“He’s so unfair, and the homework is so stupid!”

At some point in your life, you are going to be majorly unhappy with your teacher or coach. When you rant, rave, and yell about the adults in your life, you act as if you have no control of your attitude. You forget what God says to you in Ephesians 4:26, 27: “Be angry without sinning. . . . Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work.”

Believing that you can only be thankful if things go your way gives the devil a chance to work in your life. Instead, God tells you that your attitude is based on what he wants to work in you: “Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

When you don’t understand why the teacher seems harder on you than the other kids, give yourself a few minutes to calm down. Then give thanks. Let God know you are thankful for adults that volunteer their time to help make you better. Tell him thank you for the teachers whose job it is to push you and challenge you to grow. Trust that God will use every situation for your good, to bring you closer to him.

Maybe right now you aren’t sure how he’ll do this, but he promises he will.

Chomp on this!

Have you ever disagreed with a teacher’s decision?

How did you handle yourself?

How has God used teachers and coaches to push you and make you better?