LEAven Blog

It’s May. Your students are getting restless as the end of the year approaches, and you are weary yourself. While the finish line is in sight, there are still so many details to manage. Each day can feel like a slow, plodding step forward. There are lessons to plan and papers to grade—but also class parties, special events, and end-of-year responsibilities. Whew… there is still much to do.

Is this you in May? If so, you are not alone. Finishing a school year strong is a challenge for both teachers and students. Yet when we look to Scripture, we see that this struggle is nothing new. Throughout biblical history, we encounter individuals who struggled to finish well—whether in a specific task or across the span of their lives. It often seems that Satan works most persistently at the end, seeking to undermine what has already been accomplished and to damage what lies ahead. That is why it is essential for each of us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to fight for a strong finish.

Biblical figures who failed to finish strong share a common thread: in some way, they took their eyes off God. Saul allowed his jealousy of David to consume him rather than trusting in God’s provision. Solomon let his many wives draw his heart away from the Lord. And then there is Uzziah, whose reign began with the commendation that he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles), yet ended in tragedy when pride led him to unfaithfulness, and he was struck with leprosy.

Yet Scripture also offers powerful examples of faithfulness to the end. The apostle Paul continued his witness for Christ in Rome during the final years of his life. Daniel served under multiple foreign rulers, with no record of moral compromise or turning from the Lord. And Joshua boldly declared at the end of his life, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Clearly, keeping our eyes fixed on God and His Word is essential for finishing any task with strength—including a school year. Yet in the busyness of May, it can be tempting to forgo time in the Word, prayer, and worship to “catch up” on everything else. Scripture warns us that this leads to spiritual drift and diminished focus. That is exactly what Satan desires—to introduce disorder into our lives and the lives of those we serve.

As you approach the end of this school year, lean into the power of the Holy Spirit and remain rooted in your Lord and Savior. Only by grounding ourselves in His love, care, provision, and direction can we truly finish strong. And the same is true for our students. By encouraging them to keep God first, we help them cross the finish line with strength as well.