Peace in the Classroom: From Peace to Joy in the Journey

 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

-Philippians 4:4

This past week we have rested in peace, peace not dependent upon quiet classrooms, finished lesson plans, smooth days, or accomplished teaching. Peace that arrives not because our lives and classrooms are orderly, but because Christ came near. We’ve remembered that peace is not the absence of chaos, but the presence of Jesus in the middle of it. As our week comes to a close, peace does not end with rest, it leads us forward. Peace prepares the way for joy.

Advent continues to unfold with the Shepherd Candle, reminding us that joy is not reserved for the polished or the powerful. Joy was first announced to weary shepherds in ordinary fields, on an ordinary night, right in the middle of their work. Like peace, joy does not wait for ideal conditions.

The joy Scripture speaks of is not naive optimism, forced cheer, or even happiness. It is a deep, steady delight rooted in faith and trust. As Paul writes in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” This joy is a mindset shaped by gratitude and awareness, choosing to notice what God is doing, even when progress feels slow or unseen. Peace quiets our striving; joy lifts our eyes to the Giver of both.

Joy grows when we trust that God is at work not only in outcomes, but in the unfolding process itself. The shepherds didn’t see the whole story that night. They saw a baby, a promise, and a reason to rejoice, and that was enough. In the same way, joy invites us to celebrate what God is doing now, even when the full picture is still forming.

As you face the new week and all its excitement and events of the season, let peace carry you into joy. Let the steadiness Christ has given you open your heart to gratitude. Let joy take root and grow, not because everything is finished, but because God is faithfully present along the way.

Next week, we will focus on Joy in the Journey. But tonight, hold this truth close: Peace has prepared you to rejoice.

From Peace to Joy

When did I last feel a sense of delight or gratitude in my work?

What signs of growth can I celebrate instead of overlook?

Where might I be equating joy with ease, productivity, or positive outcomes rather than faithfulness?

What might change if I believed that joy is compatible with grief, fatigue, and unfinished work?

Prayer

Oh Source of all Joy, thank You for the peace You have given me this week, a peace that steadies my heart and reminds me You are near! As I look to the week ahead, help me carry that peace into joy. Teach me to rejoice not because everything is easy or complete, but because You are faithfully at work in every step of the journey. Open my eyes to the small graces, the quiet growth, the moments worth celebrating, and teach me to rejoice in You always. Amen.