Many schools are filled with fear and strife – including school violence, mass shootings, lack of respect for teachers, and lack of parental involvement. Teachers and educators face unprecedented challenges in the classroom: mental health struggles, suicides, personal loss from the Covid-19 pandemic, learning loss, and so much more.

Teachers also face real-life personal issues just like everyone else: sickness, raising kids, caring for aging parents, money pressures, divorce, job insecurity, anxiety and depression, life’s disappointments. And these burdens don’t disappear when they go to work. At school, teachers can also face difficult professional challenges: overwhelming workloads, student discipline issues, lack of resources, conflicts with colleagues, legislative mandates, budget battles, building lockdowns, curriculum woes, disconnections with the community. The volume of internal and external noise has grown loud and hostile. Teacher burnout is real. With so much to think about and do on a daily basis, they often are seeking an environment to renew, rejuvenate and receive encouragement for their spirit.  Thankfully, there is one effective way to refresh the souls of teachers: Prayer.