“We are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-7

Have you had a great start to the school year? Are your children doing well in all their subjects – straight A’s? Have you adjusted to the new school year, a new grade level and a new teacher?

A new school year can be stressful for parents, teachers, students, and even Headmasters! A new school year often comes with all the hopes and promises of a birthday milestone or the beginning of a new calendar year. Simply because the school year is new we impose upon it an expectation of success that it may or may not deliver. Unmet expectations lead to disappointments.

St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying, “We are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” These words came to a congregation of saints who struggled with conflict, divisions, false teachers, an excommunicated member and the like. They had gotten their hopes up that Paul might come visit them again. Paul had first visited them and preached the Gospel during his first missionary journey (Acts 18:1-17). During a second trip Paul had made a “painful visit” to the congregation (2 Cor 2:1). In 2 Corinthians Paul explains that his travels plans changed and that he would not be able to come (2 Cor 1:8-2:2). In short, there was much sadness and disappointment in the congregation. Did Paul still care about them? Even more, did God still love them?

Paul wrote to them, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of al comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction….” (2 Cor 1:3-4). Sin, sorrow and brokenness are frightful realities in a fallen world. School years start off on a wrong foot. Bright students fail an assignment. The teacher doesn’t seem as friendly as you would’ve hoped. But much much worse than all of that, we suffer with our sin and our own doubts that Jesus has perfectly loved us through His cross and resurrection.We lose hope. We walk by sight and not by faith.

Faith Lutheran School of Plano is not exempt from sin or difficult starts. On the contrary, we clearly confess sin, its consequences, and our short-comings. In that sense, we’re honest. Even so, we also are of good courage. We rejoice even in the worst of days believing that Christ crucified is our only solace and our everlasting joy in every circumstance. A perfect start to a school year…. perfect, straight-A students…. perfect teachers and parents…. even if everything were perfect it could not begin to compare with the immeasurable gift of the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation merited for us by Christ Jesus alone.

In good days and in bad… we are always of good courage.

In Christ,
Pastor Kieser