Homeschool Prayer Challenge Week 25: Trust in the Lord

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We’re 25 weeks into our series of praying for our homeschools – I’m so thankful you are joining me! You can learn more about the series here. We’ll pray about a new area of our homeschool journey each week and dig into God’s Word with daily devotional reflections.

Today I want to talk about something I think many of us struggle with…

Truly trusting God in our homeschool journey.

Sure, I SAY I trust Him. And I do.

But living that out? That’s where I often fall short.

Like when I react to my kids or husband with frustration, holding onto bitterness because I feel justified in my emotions.

Or when I worry—about how I’m teaching, what my kids are learning, or if we’re doing enough (that worry shows just how much I’m leaning on my own understanding instead of God’s promises).

This week’s scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6, is one you probably already know:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

These verses are a beautiful reminder to surrender our plans, emotions, and expectations to God—especially in the context of homeschooling.

Trusting the Lord isn’t just about believing in Him; it’s about making the daily, intentional choice to place our confidence in His truth instead of our feelings or fears.

Trusting God With All Your Heart

First, let’s think about what it means to “trust in the Lord with all our heart.” 

When we trust in something, we are placing our confidence in the truthfulness or accuracy of that thing. 

It’s something we can choose to do; trust isn’t just a feeling, it’s a function of our will, based on what we know to be true.

I can think of a lot of things that I can tend to put my trust in as a homeschooling mom: finances, friends, maybe the seemingly perfect curriculum or resource. I tend to want to rely on these things, to think they have some kind of power to give my kids the perfect education if I utilize them correctly or just FIND THE RIGHT ONE.

But all of these things will certainly let me down at some point or another. 

And so for ME, if I want to truly trust in the Lord with all of my heart, I need to hold these things with an open hand.  I need to place my confidence in what the Lord has promised in His Word, making the conscious choice to trust HIM, regardless of my temporary situation or circumstances.  

Not Leaning on Our Own Understanding

Second, what does it mean to us that we shouldn’t lean on our own understanding? 

I don’t think this is saying that we can’t trust anything we think we understand, but really that we need to have that foundation of God’s word and HIS wisdom to lean on, to support us. 

It can’t be JUST our own understanding we rely on, because we have such a small perspective compared to God. And not only that, but our own hearts are NOT trustworthy when left to their own devices.  God should be our source of truth, and we need to have that Biblical worldview to help us understand things how God understands things.

And, not only do WE need to have a Biblical worldview, but, are we also teaching our kids that God is the source of all truth and they should be leaning on Him as well?  We have such a good opportunity to disciple them in this area as we homeschool, not only by showing them what this looks like in our own lives, but teaching our kids to have a Biblical worldview and pointing them to God’s Word as a guide for their lives. 

Acknowledging God in All Our Ways

Next, what does it mean to us to submit to Him in all of our ways, or acknowledge Him in all our ways (as some versions say)? 

Again, this says ALL, not just the parts we pick and choose!  It means submitting to Him not just during church on Sunday or Wednesday evening, but throughout the week as well. 

In ALL our ways. 

In the subjects we teach our kids, are we acknowledging Him? 

When we discipline our kids, are we acknowledging Him? 

What about with our attitude throughout the day?  The words we say?  The big decisions we make for our kids?  Our thoughts that drive our actions?

In ALL our ways.  This takes intention, prayer, and simply living connected to the vine.

I’ll always remember an example I heard from a speaker once, who asked us to think about what kind of driver we were when we KNEW a cop was driving right behind us.  Did we go the speed limit?  Make sure to actually yield at yellow lights?  What if that cop was always around us when we drove, how would that change things?

Well, when we submit to the Lord in all of our ways, I think this is a lot like driving knowing with a cop always in your rearview mirror.  It means recognizing, ACTUALLY RECOGNIZING that God is omnipresent, even though we can’t see him like we can physically see a cop.  But it means that we recognize HIS authority in our lives and truly see Him for who He is, that HE has the right to tell me what I should be doing and how I should be doing it.  And we can know what His ways are by being in His word and learning His moral will for our lives.

He Will Make Your Paths Straight

Finally, what about making our path straight?

I don’t think this means that if we trust in the Lord and submit to Him that our lives will be easy.  But I do think that the more we get to know Him, acknowledge Him, TRUST in and lean on Him, our lives (and therefore our homeschooling) will be more purposeful.

The path we see in front of us, we’ll see it more and more as how God sees it and intends for our lives to be.  Our thoughts and actions will align more closely with His.  It’s a beautiful journey of sanctification, an amazing work He does in the lives of His children.

And when I think about Him making my path straight, I am reminded that God is SOVEREIGN.  Nothing I do or don’t do will thwart His good plans for me.  It might not always be something I initially like, but I can TRUST that He is making my path straight, and this is so freeing! 

I don’t have to worry about all of the little things I can’t control, because HE is in control. 

I don’t have to WORRY about making the wrong decision in our homeschool or with my kids, because if I’m following his moral will as laid out in His word, HE WILL MAKE MY PATHS STRAIGHT.  

So, friends, as homeschool moms, what would it look like if we really lived all of this out?

If we truly begin to trust God in our homeschooling?

I think we all have to think about this for ourselves, and how we’ll apply this passage.  

For me, it means I teach my kids at home where we can acknowledge Him in all of the subjects we learn about.  

It means we learn God’s Word throughout the week and build our home on Biblical values.  We look to Scripture to guide us in how we work, and how we treat each other and those around us.

It means I pray continually.  Not just when I need something from God, or when I’m feeling overwhelmed.  But even when I’m feeling in control and like I’ve got my act together.  I depend on Him for all things in our homeschool and look to Him for wisdom and discernment.

It means I stop and go to Him before I react to my kids when they’ve lied or cheated.  I ask Him to be with me and to help give me a calm spirit and the words to say.  

It means that I trust Him with the gifts He has given my kids, even if they aren’t necessarily the gifts I would have chosen for them.  I lean into how He has bent my kids and I give them opportunities to grow and flourish in the unique purposes He has created them for.

And finally, it means that I am diligent about daily Bible study and making His Word an authoritative part of my life, because in order to do all of these things, I need to have a relationship with Jesus.  That’s where all of this begins. 

Putting it in Action

Let’s take a look at our homeschooling this week and really see where we are not fully trusting the Lord.  Where are we leaning on our own understanding?  What do we think we’ve got completely under control, and so we don’t go to God about it? 

Give all of those pieces to Him.  Each day, we have to intentionally set aside our own plans and desires, and submit to Him.

We all need to remind ourselves, daily, HOURLY, that God is in control of even the small details of our lives, and that He can be trusted with them!  

This week, friends, let’s submit to our Almighty God, looking to Him and leaning on Him in every area of our lives.  Once we surrender to Him, He will direct our paths – and we can let go of that worry and control a little more each day.

A Prayer for This Week

Heavenly Father,

I praise you for guiding us in our homeschool this year and in our daily lives. You are worthy to be trusted, but so often in my sinful nature, I choose to put myself first. Please forgive me for this. I want to trust you with all of my heart, and not on my own understanding.

Continue to lead and guide us through every season, keeping us safe in your almighty hands. Help me to release our homeschool and all of my plans to You, that we may direct our paths according to your will.

I desire for our homeschool to not only be a place of adventure, discovery, creativity, and learning, but an opportunity to grow closer to you each day. May my kids develop a hunger for the truth of your Word, and a deep love and respect for one another.

Father, nothing is more important to us than You. Let us feel your presence in our homeschool, and glorify You in all we do.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Join the Challenge

Finally, if you want to join in on the challenge from the very beginning, make sure to sign up below, and you’ll receive a printable prayer and journal pages each week, right to your inbox. Join in any time, and you’ll start the following Monday with Week #1!

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