No “I Don’t Knows”
By Lexi Cole Ellis
“Lord, you
have examined me and know all about me.
Psalm 139:1
(NCV)
Recently, we had a student
teacher work join our team. During our prep time, she was getting ready for a
conference with a student. I happened to be in the room as she read his book,
looking for pieces that he would struggle with ahead of time. Suddenly she
sighed, looked up from her work, and said to me, “How am I supposed to know
what to prepare for him if I don’t know what he doesn’t know?” The question
caught me off guard as I fumbled an answer back, trying to encourage her.
Despite my probably lame
answer, it got me thinking. In teaching, a lot of times we do identify what our
students will struggle with ahead of time and plan supports to help them even
before we introduce the skill. There’s no magic crystal ball so I pondered her
question: How do we know what they won’t know?
And then I realized. I know
what they will not know because I know
them. I know my students’
challenges, their strengths, their passions, their wiring and their interests.
All of these things mesh together as I work to preemptively identify the
barriers they’ll face, and what I can do to remove those barriers in their
learning.
Being the ever-perfect
Teacher, God is impeccable at this. He's the Master of this because He knows us
intimately. He's created us. He loves us vastly. And He's for us. God preemptively
removed the barrier of our rebellion and sin and had a perfect plan from day
one for our reconciliation and redemption. From knowing the plans He has for
us, to creating our inmost being, to gifting us with spiritual gifts based on
our wiring and giving us strengths that will allow for His Kingdom work…God
fully and beautifully knows us. [1]
There are no “I don't
knows” when it comes to God's teaching. Every day, His perfect way reveals how
beautifully He knows our challenges, our strengths, our passions, our wiring
and our interests.
Today, may we be reminded
that God is our perfect Teacher. May we turn to worship because we are so
thankful that our God has a plan for us. May we rejoice in the fact that when
it comes to God and knowing us, there’s never a moment where He says, “I don’t
know.”
Going Deeper:
- Take
time today to jot down or reflect on the ways that God is your perfect
Teacher. Consider reading through Psalm 139.
- In what
ways has He proven that He knows you?
Further Reading:
Lexi’s family includes her husband, Andrew, her daughter,
Sloane, and her dog, Calvin. She teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and
serves with Children’s Ministries.
