Written by: Portia Nthabiseng Nkhere
Article source: JOY! Magazine
I am a teacher by profession. God made me fall in love with teaching. I simply want to inspire teachers to seek all their guidance from God. Why am I teaching? How did I get here? Why did I choose this profession? Why am I still here? These are questions most teachers ask themselves. You and I included. We’ve probably asked them at some stage.
Teaching in a difficult season
If ever there was a time when teaching felt almost impossible, this is it. Teaching today’s generation is challenging and draining. This is a generation that thinks they’ve figured it all out. They trust Google more than God. It’s the “cyber-generation”. Their world revolves around technology. They skip the teenage years and jump into adulthood – only to hit a midlife crisis by 30. They struggle deeply with depression. Many come from child-headed homes. These are just some of the challenges they face.
What teachers give
And you, the teacher, spend so much time preparing for them. You search for simpler ways to explain concepts. You try your best to make lessons fun and thought-provoking. You offer extra classes in the afternoons. You spend weekends and holidays strategising how to help them improve. You give so much effort to help them succeed. Yet often, their performance doesn’t change. It’s discouraging, isn’t it?
I felt defeated too
I used to feel like this – defeated. I knew I was missing something important. Some colleagues said not to worry – that as long as I got paid, all was well. I tried to accept that advice, but it never sat right with me.
Then God stepped in
So I consulted the One who sent me: God Almighty. He lifted me to a new level – like seeing things from a drone’s view. My perspective changed. I saw my learners differently. I saw the walls blocking my voice from reaching them. I realised they do want to learn, but so much has been planted in them – negative energy, bad attitudes, low self-esteem. These things had to be uprooted. I had to remove the lies whispered into their ears by parents, society, and even teachers – and replace them with the Gospel truth. I had to uproot their hopelessness and plant Jeremiah 29:11. I had to uproot defeat and plant Romans 8:37. I had to uproot low self-worth and plant Psalm 139:13-14.
Sent by God
I did all this through the One who sent me, following His orders. God reminded me it’s not about being praised for subject results. What good are good marks if these children don’t function in His presence? That’s when I understood how deep my mission is. I’m not just here to teach content, but to help them know their Creator and experience His love.
I am on His mission
My salary may not reflect the work I do. Society may see this job as low. Parents may not agree with me. Learners may dislike me for a while. The Department of Education may not even know my name. And that’s okay. As long as I’m fulfilling God’s purpose, all is well. I am joyful. I am fulfilled. I am a teacher on God’s mission.
This article is featured in the August issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 18/08/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from www.freepik.com
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