God is on the Move
by Kat Clark
“A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.” –Psalm 37:10
It’s important to give people a chance. I tend to be understanding and give people the benefit of doubt. However, I’ve always had an intuition about people—a sense or feeling that’s hard to describe, about whether or not I can trust them. I’ve tried to ignore this feeling, but it’s always turned out to be right. I believe what we call “intuition” is God giving us a message. I’ve learned over the years to pay attention. This doesn’t mean I write people off or refuse to give them a chance while I get to know them, but if I have a bad feeling about someone I pray for guidance and proceed with caution.
I had such a feeling about my sixth-grade son’s teacher. He said all the right things. He informed me of his dedication and told me that he had ample experience teaching children with autism. Despite his reassurance, something set off my alarm bells, and I felt like I couldn’t fully trust him.
As the school year progressed, Elliott periodically fell behind. The teacher’s frustration began to trickle through his messages. That part I could understand, but I began to resent the ways in which he addressed me. His messages were subtly condescending and judgmental. Elliott liked him, but often seemed unsure of his ever-changing expectations.
Last weekend I was talking with a friend about my dissatisfaction with this teacher. As usual, she had some spiritual wisdom for me. “Don’t worry,” she said. “God has a way of removing people for our ultimate well-being.” I was reminded of a situation years ago in which a family moved in across the street from us. The kids were bad influences on my kids and weren’t very nice to them. I prayed for God’s intercession. Shortly after, the family was transferred out of state.
Yesterday I received an email from the school informing parents that this teacher had been let go. They felt he wasn’t aligning with the school’s values, and he had accidentally shown an inappropriate video to the 5th graders. God’s timing never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes He keeps people in our lives for a season to teach us something. Some people He keeps in our lives throughout our journeys. Others He removes, maybe to protect us, or maybe to do something new. We can always trust God to act in our best interest.
Dear Heavenly Father, You know our paths. You know what’s best for us. We trust You to remove things and people from our lives that no longer serve us in accordance with Your will. Help us to trust the plans You have for us. In Your Mighty Name, Amen.