by Katie Julius

It’s the start of another school year. Normally, this brings feelings of excited anticipation as a new school year signals a fresh start. You stock up on your favorite school supplies (yes, homeschoolers do use school supplies!). Your fresh new curriculum is neatly organized on your bookshelf. You have planned out the year, or at least the first week or two. You are ready for this!

However, some of you may be looking at the calendar and wondering, “How is it already time for school to start?” You’re nowhere near ready for the day you had planned to start. Your “to do” list is a mile long (and growing). You haven’t replenished supplies. You don’t have any shiny curriculum lining your shelves. You certainly don’t have any lesson plans in place.

This is me this year. Normally, I take the time over the summer to plan and get ready for the year. I go through our curriculum, clean out our play/school room, create a calendar for the year, stock up on supplies, and am excited for the year ahead. That’s not this year. I’ve been away from home for five weeks (all really amazing opportunities for our family to travel), but it definitely cut into the time I use to prepare for the year. I’m feeling a bit frazzled and discouraged that the start of our year won’t be what it normally is.

But what the Lord has been teaching me is that it’s okay! Different seasons of life bring different circumstances that we learn to navigate through. Let’s take a look at some biblical truths that can encourage us as we start the year, maybe not quite so prepared as we would like.

Just Start

If you’re not ready, it’s easy to just delay the start of the school year until you are. Experience has taught me that never works out well. For us, September is when many of our outside activities also begin. Our schedule gets busier, not slower. My available time decreases. Delaying doesn’t usually change the circumstances. 

Phillippians 3:13b-14 says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

In these verses, Paul encourages us to continue on. And not just continue, but “straining toward” and “pressing on.” Forget what has happened and just start, even if it’s messy, even if it’s not organized. You can always refine and clean-up along the way.

Give Yourself Grace

God gives us grace. In Ephesians 12:9, Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

This is one of my favorite verses right now. It’s a great reminder that we don’t do anything under our own power. In fact, it’s in our weaknesses, imperfections, and shortcomings where God is able to really shine and receive the glory!

Our lives do not need to be perfect. The start of the school year does not need to be perfect. Life is messy. When we let God’s grace take over, it’s Him that gets the glory, not us.

Don’t Play the Comparison Game

I know, I see it all over social media, too. The back-to-school posts from families who send their kids to school, but homeschoolers as well. Everything looks so put together. Those moms must really have it figured out! But remember, you are seeing only a small window of their world. You can’t see what’s going on behind the camera (or even just out of the frame).

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s true! If we are always trying to compare our lives with the carefully curated lives of friends and influencers on social media, we will never be content or find joy. In 2 Corinthians 10:12, Paul warns the Corinthian church, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (NIV)

Be wise. Don’t hold yourself to others’ standards.

Focus on What Matters

What is important to you and your kids? You may not be able to do everything that you had planned, but maybe you have time (and energy) to do some of those things. Be selective and realistic about what you can actually do. And then do those things well. Choose things that are most cherished by you or your children.

Proverbs 4:25 reminds us to, “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” (NLT)

Don’t worry about trying to do “all the things.” Choose wisely and then make it great!

Remember the Goal

When we make the decision to homeschool our kids, we are not only taking the biblically-ordained responsibility of training and educating them, but also discipling them. Discipling our kids doesn’t require a fancy curriculum, a beautifully decorated schoolroom, or even crisp, new notebooks, sharpened pencils, or an unused box of crayons.

An oft-quoted scripture from Deuteronomy 6 reminds us that our job as homeschool parents is more than just academics. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (NIV)

Discipleship happens in the everyday. It’s not just in the school lessons or first day of school traditions.

We pray that as you approach the traditional “back-to-school” season that you will remember these truths. Be encouraged that even if you don’t feel like you’re ready, if you go with God before you, He won’t lead you astray.