“…GOD went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.”

Exodus 13:20-22 MSG

Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow is the first day of school for my kids and thousands of others in Texas. We will get them dressed in an outfit for the picture at the the front door. They will hold homemade signs that will say, “First Grade” and “Sixth Grade”. I will tell them how proud I am. They will meet their peers. They will meet their teachers. They will learn the rules of the classroom. They will be an official first and sixth grader!

Tomorrow will be different. Instead of going to their school building they will be logging online. Instead of finding their desk, they will sit at the ones we created by our kitchen. Instead of shaking hands they will wave through a zoom virtual meeting on a chrome book and iPad. Instead of raising their hands they will signal virtually and speak into a microphone to communicate with their teacher. Instead of cafeteria lines and recess, I will be making a lunch and offering a short game of catch in the backyard if it’s not raining.

Tomorrow will be different. Parents will be teaming up with teachers. Parents will be asking bosses for additional breaks to help their kids sign in. Teachers will be talking with technicians because their servers went down in 3rd period. Students home alone will feel frustrated and isolated. Seniors and freshman alike will be asking why does it have to end or start this way.

Tomorrow will be different. Through all of these things, it will be different but it will be blessed. The Israelites were led at night through the darkness by a pillar of fire in the horizon. During the day, they followed a cloud in the distance. It was very different, but it was the path they had to walk to get to safety. Every morning and evening, God showed up to provide direction. Was it easy? Did they get frustrated? Was it different? Yes, yes, and yes…but they could always rely on God leading them.

Students, parents, and teachers…tomorrow will be different but God will not be. Let Him lead you through these troubling times through our current wilderness. Tomorrow will be different, but it is not without hope! Walk the path starting tomorrow, and know that He is walking alongside you.