Resisting God’s Plan for My Life
When I look back on my journey to becoming a teacher, I can’t help but think of Jonah. Just like him, I tried resisting God’s plan. I had no desire to teach—I dreamed of a different career, one where I could make an impact outside the classroom. I wanted to work with the CDC, using mathematical modeling to solve the riddle of cancer. Teaching was nowhere on my radar. But God had other plans. If you’ve ever struggled with following God’s calling, my story may sound familiar.
How I Fought My Calling to Teach
Growing up, I had a clear vision of what I wanted my future to look like, and it did not involve standing in front of a room full of students. My passion was math, and I wanted to use it to solve real-world problems. I pursued that dream relentlessly, never once considering that God might have something different in store for me.
Then came grad school.
When God Redirects Your Career Path
In grad school, I hit a wall in my understanding of mathematics. For the first time in my life, I found myself struggling to grasp concepts that once came easily. No matter how hard I studied, I couldn’t break through. Then, one day, a professor looked at me and said, “Have you thought about becoming a high school teacher?”
At the time, I took it as an insult. Teaching felt like stepping back from the world of higher mathematics. But looking back, I see now that it was God nudging me in the direction I was meant to go.
How Teaching Became My True Calling
As part of my assistantship, I had to teach my own class. I fell in love with the material I was teaching and realized how fulfilling it was to share it with others. More than that, I experienced firsthand what teaching was really like—the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the moments of connection. I saw how teaching allowed me to make a difference in a way I had never anticipated.
That was the moment I stopped running.
Embracing God’s Plan for My Life
Like Jonah, who eventually followed God’s calling despite his initial resistance, I finally surrendered to what I was being called to do. I went back to school, earned my teaching credential, and stepped into a classroom. The challenges were overwhelming, but the rewards? Incomparable. I had moments where I doubted myself, where I questioned my abilities. But then, I’d see that one student light up with understanding, or I’d hear that one moment of encouragement from a colleague or a parent, and I knew—this was exactly where I was meant to be.
Now, years later, I can confidently say that becoming a teacher was one of the best decisions of my life. It wasn’t easy getting here, but it was exactly where I needed to be. And just like Jonah, who eventually completed the mission God set out for him, I know that my role as a teacher is part of God’s larger plan for my life.
What’s Your Jonah Story?
Have you ever resisted God’s plan for your life? Or did you feel called to a career you never expected? I’d love to hear your story in the comments! If this post encouraged you, share it with someone who might need it.
Related Bible Verses:
- Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
