When I began working at my kid’s elementary school many years ago, my first job was the lunchroom monitor. I was taking over for quite a grumpy lady. The lunchroom had 600 kids in it and I was there to monitor the kids and keep them under control! I was determined to do it with kindness and not meanness!

As I walked down the hall to the lunchroom, God spoke to me. He said, “I will be with you like the backpack you are carrying.” “I can change the atmosphere in the room.”

I have never forgotten this in all my days and all the adventures I have gone through from teaching in elementary school, middle school and high school to going to India as a cross cultural worker! He is with me wherever I go.

Isaiah 41:10 NIV says,

So do not fear, for I am with you; … do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I have come a long way. I used to shake going into a school. I would cry at my parent-teacher conferences for my kids. But I kept pushing myself until my faith grew and I could truly believe that the Holy Spirit was with me wherever I went in any situation.

I would like to pass this on to you. Whatever you are encountering this week, He is with you. He can open doors nobody can shut. He can strengthen you. His right hand is powerful and he will uphold you.

I learned so much from my time as a teacher in Atlanta. I ended up being a substitute teacher almost everyday in the largest public high school for ten years. My voice is small, and kids would volunteer to quiet down the class for me before I took roll call. I could have easily felt overwhelmed as the kids were also so much bigger than me.

But I really felt that I was to lead with kindness to everyone, no matter what ethnicity they were or what kind of behavior they had. I was warmly greeted by all the kids around town for these ten years and I loved it! I tried to show God’s love in a practical way as I walked through the halls. I made friends with other subs and together we prayed for the kids and the school. Some of those fellow subs are still my friends today and I value them deeply.

He is with you all the way. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:25

So, I encourage you to put this verse to practice – Isaiah 41:10 – and stretch yourself to do His work in whatever job you have.

Feel free to share your adventures with the Holy Spirit in the comments!