Thankful for School

Hey, carpool crew. Today we're going to be talking about school. See, learning isn't just about school. It's one of the ways God helps us grow, and it's something we should be thankful for. I'm Pastor Justin. I'm so glad you're here. I want to be real. Some mornings you wake up and school sounds awesome. You get to see your friends, learn something new. Maybe you have a favorite lunch. But other mornings you'd rather stay in bed and skip the spelling test altogether. Am I right? Here's the thing. School isn't just about homework or grades. It's a place where God is helping you learn and grow into the person he made you to be. And believe it or not, Jesus went to school too. He learned. This is what it says in Luke chapter two, verse 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. This verse comes when Jesus was about your age. He was a kid and he wasn't preaching yet, or teaching or traveling around with his friends doing ministry. He wasn't performing miracles, he was learning. Jesus went to the synagogue. He studied scripture. He listened to teachers and he asked questions. He did schoolwork just like you, reading, memorizing, practicing, and growing. He also learned to be a carpenter from his father, Joseph, so he was learning that too. See, it's pretty amazing to think about, right? The son of God, he learned just like us. So when you're sitting in class trying to solve that math problem, or remember that history fact, remember that Jesus gets it. He's been there. Let's say you're studying for a science test and it feels like your brain is full. You start thinking, why do I even need to know this? But then you remember, understanding how the world works helps you see how God works, the way plants grow, how stars move, even how your body works. It's all part of God's design. Or maybe you're learning how to be a better teammate in gym class or how to sing or play your instrument better in music class. Those things might not be on the test, but they're part of growing in wisdom, just like Jesus did. So how can you live this out today, finding the joy and the thankfulness in school? First, find one thing about school that you're thankful for today. It could be the teacher who cares for you, a school subject that you enjoy a lot, or the friend at school that makes you laugh and that you know you can count on. Or even just having a place to learn when not everyone in the world gets that chance. Before you walk into school, say a quick prayer. God, thank you for this day. Thank you for my teachers and for all I get to learn. Help me use what I learn to make a difference. See, school is one of the ways God helps us grow, grow our mind, grow our heart, and grow our thankfulness. And every bit of learning, and every bit of the hard stuff we do in school that takes hard work, it can be a way to worship God, to show thanks to him and to show thankfulness to those who are helping us learn. So today, whether you're reading, writing, adding, doing a test, playing at gym class, make sure you take the chance to show thankfulness. Be thankful for school because God has you exactly where he wants you. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you love this podcast, consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts. You'll get weekend episodes of carpooling with Jesus plus access to Goodnight Psalms, our nightly bedtime podcast, and carpooling with heroes of the Bible. You'd love it. Before you go, answer this question together. What's one thing about school you can thank God for today, and how can you make the most of the rest of the week? I'll see you tomorrow on carpooling with Jesus.