Peace in the Classroom: Called to Peace

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

-Colossians 3:15

Teachers know how easily peace can slip through our fingers, especially if we've missed our morning coffee - calm mornings can turn tense by 8:00am! The quiet sense of clarity you carried from home can evaporate as soon as your students enter the room, or, on a good day, maybe 6-7 minutes after they arrive. (Forgive me. It's the middle school teacher in me and I couldn't resist.) The weight of behavior struggles, colleague conflicts, unmet needs, mountains of papers to correct, the students you support during planning period, and the faculty meeting when you'd rather be working in your classroom are just some of the heavy burdens that can drain us of our peace. Emotional regulation in a classroom is something we work to foster in our students, but it is something teachers must also strive to master.

We are asked to be gentle responders, patient guides, emotional anchors, and steady leaders. We are asked to assume more than the role of teacher, but also that of cheerleader, referee, social worker, counselor, nurse, detective, coach, performer, storyteller, advocate, role models, and even prayer warriors. We can do this with ease on many days, yet most days we must achieve this all while managing our own inner turmoil. And when we lose it, even for a moment, we often carry shame as if peace were proof of our professionalism. And we often don't think very highly of others whose struggle to maintain their inner calm is visible.

Thankfully, Christ entered a world marked by exhaustion, misunderstanding, conflict, and unmet expectations. He did not come to applaud our composure but to become our calm.

When peace rules in us, patience becomes possible again. We can correct without crushing our students. Respond without over-reacting to our fellow teachers. Listen without defensiveness to our supervisors. We can choose connection over control, grace over proving our point, and understanding over urgency. Peace becomes the posture that precedes our instruction, shapes our interactions, and softens the rough edges of our day.

Let the peace Christ brings be more than a Sunday morning focus when we light the candle of peace. Let it become the authority within you. Let it reshape what you carry, how you speak, and how you see the people around you. You were never asked to create peace on your own. We were called to receive it as it is given to us, embody it, and offer it generously to those in our lives. And as His peace rules in you, let gratitude follow, shaping your posture toward God and the people entrusted to your care.

Let His peace rule, not because you are calm, but because He came near.

Do You Need Peace and Inner Calm?

What would shift if peace ruled your next response?

What routines or transitions could become opportunities to model inner calm and trust in God to your students?

How might a few minutes of focus on scripture help you navigate difficult conversations with colleagues or students?

Prayer

Jesus, come rule in my heart and settle my spirit so I can lead with your calm. Quiet what is anxious in me, and let your peace shape every word I give my students this week and every day. When conflict rises, guard my emotions with your peace so I respond with grace as opposed to impulsivity. Amen.