Trusting God in the Process

I recently went to a homeschool coffee social with new and seasoned homeschool moms. It was rewarding to go as an encourager. I hadn’t realized that somehow over the last fifteen years, I had gone from a novice homeschool mom to being seasoned. (Although weathered or battle-scarred might be a better description.) I am now the mom I looked at fifteen years ago and thought, “Wow, she sure has it all figured out now that she has all those years of homeschooling under her belt.” If she only knew.

The years I spent doubting were usually focused on me. The months I stressed about putting my daughter in preschool were agonizing. I didn’t trust God to see me through this. Homeschooling was so out of my comfort zone.

Christi Deason, the president of Homeschool Charlotte and the coordinator of the coffee social said something that resonated with me. I haven’t been able to shake it. She, having graduated and married off two successful children, said “Trust the process.” As a new homeschool mom, you just aren’t able to fully see the fruit of your efforts. Sometimes it is hard just to lift your head out of the trenches to even pause for a view. God has placed you as a homeschool mom over your children for a reason. Trust Him to see you through struggles, conflicts and disappointments. No one ever said it was going to be easy. But it will be good. God is good.

Then he [Jesus] asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40

As my oldest prepares to graduate, I am realizing the fruit of our homeschool experience.

My graduate is kind. She believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. She is compassionate. She knows how to learn. She is a giver, a tremendous leader and (although I’m a little biased) an exceptional human being. He did that—even with all my holes in her education, all my faults and all my short comings.

Just this morning I received a mom’s note saying, “Last night at the dance I watched [your daughter] treat a young, fumbling, feet-shuffling, awkward young man with such kindness and grace. She just smiled and never lost step while he tried his best. You have reared a lovely young lady!”

I have gotten other comments like this over the years as well. As much as I would like to take the credit, I know in my heart that it has been Him who has overseen her education. God took this stubborn heart of mine and placed me (out of my comfort zone) in His will to homeschool my kids. Now, I see why more than ever.

And just this past week, as my eight-year-old and I went for a run, I found her chalk art all up and down our cul-de-sac street.

“Trust the process” is becoming my new mantra, not only in homeschooling but in other areas of my life as well. I only wish I would have gotten this truth sooner. And although I still struggle at times, I know in my heart, God’s got this.

Tips for trusting God in the process of life:

• Pray, pray, pray. As a homeschool mom, sometimes just dropping to your knees and trusting is the way to get through the day. I have done this with my kids as well. Philippians 4:4-7 says we are to do this with thanksgiving. Start a monthly prayer group; ask others to pray for you and begin each day in prayer, intentionally giving Him your requests.
• Read His life letter to you. Soaking in scripture grows your faith. When you can produce His promises on the tip of your tongue to encourage yourself or another, you will strengthen your trust. The more you know Him, the easier it is to trust Him.
• Trust Him, not yourself. This isn’t easy for the control freak in me. If God placed you as a homeschool mom, trust Him to finish the good work in you. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)
• Look for fruit whether from a kind comment from a stranger or improvements you can see yourself. Intentionally seek it out.
• Remember this is a life-long journey. Every crisis will call for a new commitment to trusting Him.

I am grateful He trusted me to be a homeschool mom. It is a priceless gift. And I never could have done it on my own.