Trust the Teacher
A few days ago, a friend and I were discussing different teaching methods. The conversation began when we were talking about Barnabas, and I shared how the trainers we hired when we first got Barnabas literally didn’t know what to do with him. They knew one way of training, and that way worked with 99% of the dogs they encountered. But Barnabas was among the 1% that left them grasping at straws in figuring out how to train him. They never figured it out, but Jason and I did.
I dusted off a few of my skills from my nine years of teaching kindergarten and first grade. The main reminder I needed is that not every student responds to the same methods of teaching. Each student is different, and it’s up to the teacher to figure out what works best for each one. Some students learn well by playing games, others by singing songs. Some prefer visual learning while others are auditory learners. Some excel with a book in their hands, but others may need a different hands-on experience such as using a felt board or manipulatives. Good teachers will work with their students until they discover how to meet each child’s needs. (I say “good teachers” because my friend was quick to point out that not every teacher has figured that out, and I agree.)
Armed with this knowledge, Jason and I stopped trying to train Barnabas according to the trainers' instructions. We didn’t even approach his teaching in the same way we had each of our dogs in the past. We began by observing him, paying special attention to what set him off and what created peace and contentment in him. We learned to anticipate his moods and outbursts and correct them before they got out of hand. Now, though he still needs to work on his social skills outside his environment, he is the most obedient and well-behaved dog we’ve ever had. Who would have thought?
Well, the Lord for one. You see, He is well-acquainted with this teaching method and uses it with His children and those He is calling to Him.
“What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. ”
Did you catch that? God will teach in the way He chooses, and I do not doubt that He—being the perfect Teacher—would use the form that best serves the one with whom He’s dealing. For example, when teaching Jason how to get from Point A to Point B, God would know Jason navigates best when given street names and road numbers. Me, on the other hand, I want the street names, but I also need landmarks. God knows that, and so I believe He teaches us accordingly.
Sometimes, we see God working in the life of a friend or coworker, and we complain, “Hey! How come God’s never talked to me like that? Why doesn’t He show me the stuff He shows her? Why must I attend the school of hard knocks while the Lord gently leads him along?”
Simple answer—we’re not that person! And if God is not using specific teaching techniques on us, it may be because He knows they won’t work. Or perhaps He has tried, and we’ve been too preoccupied to notice. The fault, I guarantee you, lies with the student, not the Teacher.
My point is, trust the Teacher. He knows what He’s doing. He has chosen the teaching methods that will get you where you need to be in the best way possible. It may not be the fastest or the gentlest, but it is the best. The Teacher loves and cares for us far too much than to ever give us less than His best. Trust Him, and be the best student you can be!