From Overwhelm to Empowerment: Faith-Based Strategies to Alleviate Teacher Stress
The amount of stress that teachers face today is unprecedented.
We all hoped that returning to “normal” after the pandemic would be a return to our normal level of teacher stress and overwhelm. But to our dismay, most teachers have had even more put on their plates and continue to battle an overwhelming increase in student behavior problems, not to mention a lack of respect from parents and society at large.
How do you cope?
It’s hard to prioritize your faith when you are in the middle of a storm! But, sister, don’t lose heart. Now is the exact time to put God first and foremost! He will carry you through this. He will refine you through this, and you will grow stronger in faith and closer to Jesus. Below are some essential faith-based strategies to help you find peace and alleviate teacher stress and overwhelm.
Prioritize Soul-Care
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired of hearing everyone tell teachers that the way to survive is to put yourself first and make self-care a priority.
Don’t get me wrong; you must take care of yourself. Your body is a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), after all. But as believers, we are called to deny ourselves (Matthew 16:24) and seek God’s kingdom first.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
No matter how great that bubble bath with those new bath salts feels, it will never compare to the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) that we get from our Father in Heaven.
Seek God First Thing in the Morning
One way to put God first and prioritize your faith is to give Him the first few minutes of your day.
Set your alarm a little bit earlier, even five minutes, and spend that time in prayer and reading the Word of God. Try a devotional or Bible reading plan. (The YouVersion Bible app is a great place to start.)
Or try connecting with God during your commute! I did this for many years while sitting in Dallas traffic. Not my first choice, but I could listen to a devotional podcast and pray while I was in the car.
It doesn’t have to be a huge chunk of your day to have an enormous impact on your mindset, attitude, stress level, and life.
Surrender Your Stress and Overwhelm to Him
Give it all to God, sister! 🙌
If you have prayed over your situation and given it over to God, then let go and TRUST God to take the reigns. Worry is the enemy placing doubt in your mind. The enemy is a liar. If you have surrendered to God, it is in His hands.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 NIV
We have an awesome God! He knows every hair on your head (Matthew 10:30)! Do you think He doesn’t know your stress and anxiety? He wants you to have faith in Him through the storm.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Speak the Word of God
Memorize Bible verses and use them in prayer in your classroom or wherever the stress is generated. There is great power in the Word of God.
Philippians 4:6-7 quoted above, is a great verse for this.
I also use this verse from James in many of my prayers:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 NIV
Plan Your Day WITH God
I love a good planner, don’t you? I have geeked out over productivity strategies and tried to find the perfect way to structure my to-do list and my day. Only to find out God had other plans!
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 ESV
I still believe planning and prioritizing your tasks can really help you get things done more efficiently, but I also believe in the power of praying over your schedule and to-do list. Let the Holy Spirit power your day!
Make this a faith-led task, and talk to God as you plan your day.
Pray for God’s will over your day.
And if you still want that cute planner, my friend Linda from Teach4theHeart has a great little planner designed just for this.
Set Boundaries
Finding a work-life balance requires setting boundaries in your life. Here are a few suggestions:
Set your working hours and stick to it!
Give yourself some grace on both sides of the clock. We all need to work a little later at times, like the end of a grading cycle but give yourself a hard stop. Keep your evenings and weekends for your family, friends, and fellowship.
Give yourself permission to say NO.
I’m a recovering people pleaser, so this one is a struggle, but I sometimes have to say no. By saying no to one thing, you are able to say yes to things that are more important. The principal can find someone else to work the concession at the game.
Ask for support.
Yes, boundaries go both ways. Support is letting someone in. If you are like me, I struggle with asking for help and letting others do things for me. Get help and support from friends, family, and co-workers when you can.
Give yourself time to rest and recharge.
Depending on your personality, this may mean spending time alone or spending time with friends. And spending time with God in any of these situations can recharge your batteries!
Even Jesus needed to spend time alone with God.
“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Mark 6:30-31 ESV
Find Fellowship
Finding fellowship with believers in your school, community, friend group, or church will help you unwind and grow closer to God.
After you’ve set those boundaries, seek fellowship opportunities–friends who you can talk to and who will pray with you and for you.
You weren’t meant to do this alone.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Look for Blessings
Gratitude is a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Sometimes we can be so focused on what’s going wrong that we miss God’s blessings. Look for blessings in the mess and chaos of the school year, especially when all you see is the negative.
When we focus on the things we’re thankful for, it can shift our perspective and help us see the good in our work as teachers.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
Find gratitude in the small things while God is working on the big things.
Start a gratitude journal, or keep track of answered prayers, or use a Faith Notebook.
Being a teacher will always have its challenges, but God wants to use you for His kingdom. Focus on your mission, and let the Holy Spirit empower you to conquer the day ahead. Seek Him first in the morning, surrender your stress, speak the Word, plan your day WITH God, set meaningful boundaries, find fellowship, and look for blessings.
Wondering if teaching is your calling? Want to discover your spiritual gifts and God’s purpose for your life? Reach out here.
