School! Many young people do not even want to hear that word! Pressure to fit in, sexual temptation, backbiting and wanting to be popular are just a few of the things that young Christians experience every day at school.
A place where we can overcome!
But, the fact that we meet such situations at school doesn’t mean that we should become discouraged. It says in Joshua 1:9 (CEV), “I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” God’s Word makes it clear that, just as God is with us at church or at home, He is also with us when we are at school. He has a true interest in our lives and wants it to succeed for us!
The spirit of the times is strong; we can see that sin is becoming accepted more and more. God’s Word says in Isaiah 5:20 (NCV), “How terrible it will be for people who call good things bad and bad things good, who think darkness is light and light is darkness, who think sour is sweet and sweet is sour.” This is exactly what seems to be happening in the world today. Many young people think it is fine to make impure jokes, for example. It seems that godly and good thoughts are “old fashioned” and, in some cases, are mocked openly.
It’s not a secret that Satan wants to destroy God’s people. (Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8.) School is therefore a battlefield for Christians who want to stay pure. But even if it is a battlefield, it’s a place where we can always overcome!
Our battle is not against people
In Ephesians 6:10-13 (NCV) Paul writes: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.”
These verses make it clear that we are not actually battling against people like the teachers or classmates that we see every day at school. Even if our classmates tell bad jokes, backbite or try to get us to agree with something that goes against God’s Word, we can be sure that we do not have to fight against them. No, we are battling against the ungodly behaviour and opinions that are present among them. Such things are actually influenced by evil spirits that would try to corrupt us, and stop us from doing God’s will.
Be armed with God’s Word
By nature, we are also drawn to these same ungodly things and thoughts. (James 1:14.) But Paul encourages us to “stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” We can read this in Ephesians 6:14-17 (NCV).
When we have faith in our hearts and the Word of God in our thoughts, we are armed to consciously take up a battle against the ungodly influences that want to come into our hearts. We can pray to God, as Paul tells us to do in Ephesians 6:8, and He will give us the strength we need to say No to our natural desires to follow such sinful influences. Then we are able to stand against all the ungodly influences that are present at school and everywhere else.
We are promised in Deuteronomy 20:4 (CEV) that “the LORD your God will fight alongside you and help you win the battle." We are not only able to overcome sin, but we are also able to become examples for the others, showing them that it’s possible to rule over sin in their own lives. We can now show people how to be a Christian in truth!
When we keep this in mind, we no longer need to fear going to school. Instead, we can look forward to it! It can be a place where we can be an example, a place where we can overcome, a place where we can be changed! “Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NCV).