It happens every year. Right around the time kids have mastered the art of sleeping until noon, playing video games all night, and consuming every last snack within a five-mile radius, summer quietly packs up and leaves. Along with the beach trips, popsicles, relaxed bedtime routines and flexible schedules, school is back and another summer is gone.
As if we did not know that summer was fading away, Costco, Staples, Target and Walmart are sure to let us know, with aisles overflowing with notebooks, pencils, folders and backpacks that cost more than your first car. Parents everywhere will soon begin the annual ritual of buying new shoes, arguing over what counts as “school appropriate,” and waking kids from their summer slumber with something between a whisper and a foghorn.
Some kids love it. They’re excited for fresh starts, new friendships and the thrill of untouched school supplies. Others (especially those in middle or high school) greet this time of year with deep sighs, eye rolls and Oscar-worthy performances about how school is an unfair government conspiracy designed to ruin their lives.
But wherever your household lands on the back-to-school emotional spectrum, there’s more to this season than just supply lists and schedule changes. For those who seek to live with faith, this time of year is an invitation, an opportunity to lean into the wisdom of the Bible as we enter another year of education.
Let’s start with one of the foundational verses for learning:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
Now, when teenagers hear the word “instruction,” they often translate it as “homework” or “being told what to do.” Cue the groaning and scrolling through their phones.
But this verse is offering something deeper than school rules or remembering where your classes are. It is reminding us that real knowledge—life-changing, character-forming, soul-shaping knowledge—starts with humility. It starts with honoring God and recognizing Him as the source of all truth.
“Fear of the Lord” doesn’t mean being afraid, hiding under your bed with a flashlight. It means reverence. It’s about approaching learning and wisdom with awe and respect. Not just for God, but for the people He’s placed in our lives to guide us: parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, even that math tutor with the cat sweater.
When our education begins with reverence, it doesn’t just inform our minds—it transforms our hearts. And that’s the kind of wisdom our world desperately needs.
Another gem for this season is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Back-to-school brings its share of unknowns: new teachers, new schools, new social dynamics and new pressures. Some kids are thrilled. Others are terrified. And many are both, depending on the time of day. But this verse reminds us that God isn’t asking us to have it all figured out. He’s asking us to trust Him. He’s not just present in church or at bedtime prayers. He’s walking the hallways, sitting in classrooms, and right alongside us during our first math test.
And let’s not forget the grownups. Parents and teachers may not have homework assignments, but they’re carrying just as much. Parents are the early risers, the lunch packers, the ride providers, the calendar organizers and the constant encouragers.
Teachers learn curriculum, inspire students to think, and care for every child like they are their own. The adults’ roles aren’t background support but frontline care. And through every groggy morning and late-night project, they’re modeling what it means to pursue wisdom and live with faith.
So yes, it’s that time again. The alarms are set, backpacks packed, Chromebooks at the ready and so the adventure begins anew. But as we step into this school year, let’s remember: wisdom isn’t found only in textbooks or test scores. It’s found in walking with God. And that’s a lesson worth learning—year after year.
Trevor Van Laar is a Pastor at Gilroy and San Martin Presbyterian Churches. He is a member of the Interfaith Clergy Alliance and can be reached at tr****@********es.org.
