My Faith Will Not Be Shaken
How are you and your family doing? As Heart of Dakota (HOD) users, we consider you an extension of our own family, and we care about you. We pray for you often, and we hope you are having a wonderful homeschool year. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father. So, if you had or are having a good homeschool year, that is a gift from the Father, and we praise Him and celebrate your year with you!
Twenty Years of Homeschooling
I have homeschooled with HOD for 20 years. When I look back at those 20 years, most years in their entirety were wonderful, praise-God years! Sure, within those years, there were days that were harder. But the years, they were good. I knew I was fulfilling a God-given purpose by choosing to homeschool my children with Christ-centered curriculum. I appreciated the Godly character ‘helps’ the HOD guides gave both me and my children. Truly, HOD’s guides have helped me raise my sons to know the Lord personally and to connect with Him daily. I am incredibly thankful.
All 20 years of my homeschooling, however, were not wonderful. Not because of HOD, mind you. No, they were not wonderful because hard things happened. Difficult pregnancies, hospitalizations, surgeries, NICU stays, life-threatening allergies, more surgeries, more NICU stays – and the list goes on. Maybe it was youth – more likely it was God’s provision – but I weathered all of these things fairly well. Well enough, that I would still call those homeschool years quite wonderful. However, 2012, 2013, and 2014 were not wonderful years. Those were years during which the only way I could get through each day was to say over and over to myself “My faith will not be shaken.” I believe the Lord gave me that thought, and as it got me through those very difficult years, I am now passing that thought on to those of you who may need it now.
Homeschooling Through Difficult Times
If you are going through a difficult time, know God is right there with you. He will not leave you alone in it. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. When you think you cannot go on, you can. Take it one day at a time. Remember, when we are not strong, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He will carry you through it. Do the best you can with your homeschooling; the Lord will cover you. Go forth, getting done what you can to the best of your ability. No matter what happens, no matter where your mind goes or how your heart breaks, keep saying “My faith will not be shaken.” The Lord will see you through, remember that.
Homeschooling Can Be the “Normal”
For me, homeschooling with HOD was my sense of ‘normal’ during those difficult years. When all else seemed to be falling apart, homeschooling was the glue for my children. They pulled together, helped each other as best they could, and went forward. They had good days when I had bad days. I was so thankful.
My oldest son was 12 at the time; my husband traveled for business many nights in a row. My son grew into a man that year – ever since, he has always been ‘old’ for his years. The others were too young, but he understood the gravity of it all, and he stepped in the gap. He will make a wonderful father and husband someday. He is already a wonderful son, as are my other two sons who also helped through those difficult years by bringing joy at unexpected times. There is such life in young children – the ability to laugh and love in trying times as they are blissfully unaware of all that is happening.
This Too Shall Pass
In the midst of dark times, I know it is hard to believe “this too shall pass” – but it will. As believers in Christ, there will be joy again – either here on earth or with our Father in heaven. The years 2012-2014 were dark because my Dad had pancreatic cancer. I loved him with all of my heart, and while I still miss him, I know he is in heaven – probably singing praises to Jesus with his quartet, all of whom are also in heaven now. Seeing my Mom go through losing him was especially hard. He was her ‘rock.’ She still misses him dearly, but she chooses to find joy and to encourage all around her. Her faith was not shaken; it was strengthened. She is an inspiration to me!
Are you going through a difficult time?
Talking on the phone with families who call Heart of Dakota, I know some of you are going through difficult times. When you are downtrodden, keep saying “My faith will not be shaken” and do the day. Pray, lean hard on the Lord, and He will lead you through it. No matter what, He loves you. His promises are true. Even when we don’t understand it, His plan is good. His ways are higher. Keep the faith and press on. This too shall pass, and there will be joy again. I know because I have found joy again, and you will too.
Please know we care for you and for your children, and we believe the Lord is faithful – He will not give you more than you can bear. It is my prayer that simply saying “My faith will not be shaken” when you cannot see your way through will help you as it helped me. This got me through some very difficult times, as it reminded me my faith in Christ is my strength. I pray it does the same for you.
Love in Christ,
Julie
