It is common for students to feel anxious when they think about going back to school. I remember when I was a child in elementary school, I was always anxious and worried leading up to the days of the first day of school.
After the sixth grade, I was homeschooled, yet I still felt the anxiety and nervousness of the impending first day of school.
I would like to say that I grew out of school anxiety, but I still got anxious and nervous as I waited for the first day back to school in college and in seminary. While it is common to be anxious to go back to school, is it okay for Christians to be anxious to go back to school?
What Is Anxiety?
Suffering from anxiety is extremely common in the modern day. It seems to be the fast-paced society, and constant information at our fingertips has caused us to be more prone to develop anxiety.
With this in mind, it is no surprise that many of us are anxious to go back to school. Growing up and throughout seminary, school was a constant place of anxiety for me.
I always enjoyed learning, and for the most part, I enjoyed my teachers, yet I could never shake the anxiety that would accompany my heart and mind before the start of each day, especially at the beginning of the school year.
The beginning of most school years starts around the second to last week of August and will last until the following May or June for elementary, middle, and high school. The impending new school year can bring up many anxieties and fears.
Questions such as “what if I don’t like my teacher,” “what if I don't have any friends,” or “what if I forget my homeroom” are all questions that cause us to experience anxiety when we are going back to school.
We are just coming back from a two-to-three-month vacation of summer freedom to the place of deadlines, tests, and papers. For most people, this will cause students anxiety — I know it caused me more anxiety than what is considered normal.
Addressing anxiety is always a hard topic because different people experience different levels of anxiety. From my perspective, it is perfectly okay for Christians to be anxious to go back to school because we are only human.
It’s not a sin to feel anxious, but rather anxiety is a normal human emotion that we all experience at one time or another. The main thing to look out for is if you are experiencing anxiety that interferes with your daily life.
When you are experiencing anxiety that interferes with your daily life, you might have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
I personally struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, and it does interfere greatly with my day-to-day life. While this type of anxiety is not normal, simply being anxious to go back to school is not anything to worry about, nor is it a spiritual problem.
Many things about returning to school can inflict anxiety on us, and it is not unreasonable to be stressed or worried during the days leading up to going to school. If you are feeling anxious about returning to school, there are many things you can do.
The best thing to do is to pray and talk with God about how you are feeling. Tell him all about your anxiety over school as well as your worries and fears.
What Does the Bible Say?
Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Whenever I get anxious, I turn to this passage of Scripture. I have even memorized this passage of Scripture to always keep it at the back of my head. I encourage you to memorize this Scripture or to write it in one of your notebooks for school so that you can remember what God says.
In Philippians 4:6-7, we are told not to be anxious about anything, but rather to give all of our worries over to God by prayer and petition. Through doing this, the peace of God will wash through our hearts and minds.
When you are feeling anxious about school, remember to give all of those anxieties, fears, and concerns over to God. He will give you the peace that you need. Prayer is often overlooked, but it is the only way we can talk with God.
We can hear back from God through His Word — the Bible. While anxiety is a normal emotion to have, God doesn’t want us to be drowned by anxiety to the point that it paralyzes us. Instead, God wants us to walk in the peace of knowing Him and to rest in His love.
God knows that going back to school can be challenging and that it can bring great waves of anxiety into our hearts, but He wants us to give them all over to Him.
Nothing is too big for God to handle. He can relinquish our anxiety as we choose to stay focused on Him and choose to trust Him. We can trust God because He has proven Himself to be fully trustworthy, and He will never let us down.
Furthermore, in 1 Peter 5:6-7, we are told, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
From this passage of Scripture, we are told to cast all of our anxiety on God because He cares about us. This passage couldn’t be more true for our own struggles with anxiety.
When you find yourself having anxiety over returning to school, cast your anxiety on God and rest in the peace that God cares about you and He has everything under control.
Take a deep breath, pour out your anxieties to God, and trust Him. He takes up our heavy burdens and He gives us the peace that we yearn for in our daily hectic lives.
Thus, it is perfectly normal and okay for Christians to be anxious about going back to school, but God doesn’t want us to be paralyzed by anxiety.
If you are struggling with anxiety over going back to school, talk with God in prayer and meditate on the deep truths of the Bible, such as Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:6-7. It is also good to remember the passages that tell us that God will never leave us nor forsake us (Psalm 23; Hebrews 13:5).
What Does This Mean?
Even if we are starting a new school year and we know nobody at the school, God will be walking down the halls by our side.
The Lord is our best friend, and He will never lead our side, whether we are in grade school, high school, college, or seminary. Through the highs and the lows, God will always remain by our side.
Give your anxiety over to God and choose to rest in His peace. Feeling anxious over situations can be extremely challenging, yet God promises to be right by your side, and He is ready for you to pour out your anxieties, fears, and worries to Him.
For further reading:
Why Is a Christian Education Important for Children?
6 Encouraging Prayers for Students and Teachers Heading Back to School
What Does the Bible Say about Anxiety?
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Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/.