Be patient, bearing with one another in love.

(Ephesians 4:2)
Courage to Love the Unlovable
Have any of us NOT struggled with negative feelings regarding a difficult
student? While teaching Chemistry, Michelle Garza hated to be absent because,
inevitably, the substitute left a negative report regarding one of her most challenging
students. These discouraging reports left on her lesson plans or desk would usually begin
with, The blond-haired boy in 3rd period ....
Michelles challenging student was a junior named Carl who would usually use
various fictitious names when a substitute was covering her class; therefore, he was
identified by his flamboyant white blond hair. Michelle had to give Carl credit for creativity; every time she was gone
he led the class and substitute teacher on a new adventure. Even when Michelle was present in the class he seemingly
loved to find and push her buttons. He had mastered the art of annoyance.
Many times, our most difficult students suffer from deep spiritual and emotional wounds. Carl struggled with
addiction to alcohol; yet, ironically, God chose to use this student to break Michelle free from hidden strongholds of
evil she had been holding onto in her classroom for years. God promises to take the foolish things to shame the wise
and the weak things to shame the strong.
When we are not chosen teacher of the year, the month, or even the week, we can forget that we are truly
working for Jesus. When we are cursed, misused, scorned, ignored or unfairly criticized by politicians, parents,
students or administrators, any of us can become discouraged. If we know that we are not the popular teacher we
may begin to feel insignificant. When no one seems to recognize all our hard work we wonder why we should continue
to put forth our best efforts. When a challenging rebellious student is added to all these dismal feelings then anger and
apathy, along with discouragement, can have a field day in our professional lives.
Certainly, we try to talk ourselves out of these difficult feelings, but sometimes we need a little help. The Bible
states that we have a teacher and mentor, Christ, who understands our weaknesses, yet is without sin (Hebrews 6).
Jesus understands rejection; the Word says that He came unto his own and His own received him not. However, the
Word declares to as many as received, He gave them power to become sons and daughters of God. Halleluiah! We are
accepted, loved, and encouraged in our professional lives by our beloved Jesus, even when we are ignored, rejected,
forgotten, or unappreciated by others. He can pull us out of our personal pity parties.
Carl made great strides in maturity in his senior year. He celebrated eight months of sobriety and improved
behavior and grades. He visited Michelle during that senior year and in his own words told her, I have grown up.
One Friday, without any pretense, Carl hollered at Michelle unabashedly from far across a long hallway,
I love you! God also shouted at Michelle, through Carl, His words of acceptance much as He did when He declared,
This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased. Gods presence within Carls simple but heartfelt words
washed over Michelle like warm oil, breaking the strongholds of rejection, prolonged anger, and hidden resentment
that prayer and fasting had not been able to do. Michelle got a glimpse of how Jesus must have felt when the sinful
woman broke a jar and poured oil over his feet and washed his feet with her hair. The open expression of true love and
appreciation must have been a balm to his soul when compared with the hypocritical perfection and false hospitality of
the Pharisee leader that hosted him, who did not truly love Him. Jesus even chastised the Pharisee, telling him all of
things he failed to do to make him truly feel welcomed. How many of us, like this Pharisee, only pretend to invite
Christ into our hearts, homes, and classrooms but never openly show our true love for him in these places?
Through Carl, God showed Michelle that the student she had forgiven over and over again had
become one of the students that appreciated and cared for her the most. God used all of the hassles and
frustration Michelle had experienced while working with Carl to not only change him, but her as well. God
used the weaknesses of a student to expose and transform the weaknesses in Michelle. By loving the difficult
child, we show Christs empathy and participate in His work. We might even be surprised to see the greatest
change is in ourselves as the one we have tirelessly poured into, turns around and pours into us.
Prayer: Lord, help us love the unlovable in your classrooms and schools.
Application: Pray daily for your most challenging students. Meet regularly with another teacher and agree in prayer
regarding these students. Watch what God will do to transform both the students and you.
Sharing: Share the stories of several of the most challenging students you have ever served and how God has helped
you to serve and love them.
CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE! (For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 31