Hey, Carpool Crew, it's Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you joined me for this bonus episode of Carpooling with Jesus. Today's episode is part of our ongoing series, What Should I Do If, where we talk about real situations that you might face at school, at camp, with your friends, or maybe even in your own house. Today we're talking about something a whole lot of you are about to feel because summer is almost over. What should I do if we're nervous about a new grade or a new teacher? It usually hits at night. The last week of summer, you can feel school coming like a wave you can't stop. You're lying in bed and your brain starts firing off questions. "Who's gonna be in my class? What if I don't know anyone? What if my teacher is strict? What if the work is way harder this year? What if I can't find my classroom? What if I sit in the wrong seat in front of everyone?" Your stomach does that flippy thing. Maybe you've even told your mom or dad that your stomach hurts and maybe it's best if you stay home. It's not because you're sick, it's because you're nervous. Or maybe it hits the morning of, new shoes by the door, backpack packed, and you feel shaky inside, like the first drop of a roller coaster, except the roller coaster is a Monday morning. Here's the thing. If that's you, hear me clearly. Being nervous about something new doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It means something matters to you. Nervousness shows up right before things we care about. Brave kids get nervous. Strong kids get nervous. Kids who love Jesus get nervous. The goal was never to feel zero butterflies, it's knowing what to do with them. I remember over the summer, I was in Lake Havasu with my whole family. We love Lake Havasu. And there's this one area called Copper Cove, where their grandfather used to go when he was a kid to jump off rocks. My nine-year-old was up there for the very first time looking out, and trust me, he is brave, he is strong, he is bold, and he was nervous to jump off this big rock. It took him some time, and eventually, he took the jump. Then he jumped again and again. It's okay to be nervous at first. Pressing through and going forward is a good thing, and Jesus is with you every step. Now, most kids do one of two things when they're getting really nervous. Some stuff it down and act tough, like nothing matters. But it usually leaks out as stomach aches, a bad mood, or snapping at their little brother or sister. Others let the worry run wild. It builds bigger and bigger what-if stories until the teacher they've never met is basically a dragon in their imagination. Neither one helps. One hides the worry, the other feeds it. So let's hear what God says to do with worry instead. This one is so good. It's out of Philippians 4:6-7. "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Let's unpack that, because it's basically a step-by-step. Don't just sit there worrying. Instead, take every single thing you're worried about and hand it to God one at a time, and say thank you while you do it. And then it makes a promise. When you do that, God gives you a peace so big it doesn't even make sense, and that peace stands guard over your heart and mind like a security guard at the door. You don't have to manufacture the calm yourself. God guards you with it. There's a guy in the Bible who had the most nervous first day you can imagine. His name was Joshua. His whole life, the leader was Moses. Then Moses died and God tapped Joshua on the shoulder and said, "Your turn. You're in charge. Lead millions of people into a brand new land you've never lived in." Talk about experiencing something new for the very first time. And do you know the very first thing God said to him in Joshua 1:9? "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." God didn't promise Joshua it would be easy. He promised he wouldn't walk in alone. And that's the same promise God makes to you on the first day of school or the first day of anything. Wherever you go, a new class, new teachers, new hallway, new everything, God promises to be with you. So what should you do if you're nervous about a new grade or a new teacher? First, name the worries out loud, the week before, the night before, any time before, to your parents. Don't let them swirl around in the dark of your mind where they can grow. "I'm scared I won't know anyone. I'm worried the work will be too hard." When you name what you're worried about, you shrink it just a little bit, and when you share it with someone who loves you, they will help you. Second, hand each one over to God and say thank you. This is the verse in action. Go down your list and pray it. "God, I give you my worry about my new teacher. I give you my worry about who will be in my class. Thank you that you already know everything. I know you're going with me." That thank you is part of the secret. It reminds your heart that God has come through before, and he will again. Third, walk in and find one. The first day, you don't have to fix the whole day. Just find one, one friendly face to say hi to, one kind thing to do for somebody who looks nervous too, because you are not the only kid nervous in that room. And if the nerves are still really big, tell your new teacher or a parent. Teachers love a kid who says, "I'm a little nervous today. It's my first day." That doesn't make you a baby. That makes you bold. It makes you a leader. And parents, the night before a new school year, your kid's nervous system is on high alert. The most helpful thing isn't "You'll be fine, don't worry about it," because that quietly tells them the feeling is wrong. Instead, try, "It makes sense that you're nervous. Something new is a big deal. Let's pray about it together." Or even better, share a story from your own childhood when you were really nervous. Here's a quick recap. If you're nervous about a new grade or a new teacher: name the worries out loud the night before, hand each one to God and say thank you, and walk in and find one, one friendly face and one kind thing you can do for someone else who looks nervous. Here's the one thing I want you to remember. Nervous is normal the night before something new. You can hand that worry to God and walk in with peace. Remember, Carpool Crew, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you.
