In the childcare centers I’ve worked in, I’ve seen some pretty incredible things. There were things I couldn’t believe were happening before my eyes. Children 3 and 4 years old attack one another and their teachers in their anger. They kick others in the head, shove, scratch, bite, spit—you name it—and at times they’re overtaken by a spirit of wrath, hatred and violence.

As teachers, we’re pretty limited in what we can do. They’re not our children, and proper discipline is often restricted or lacking. They don’t have the love and instruction that is needed from their parents. We simply cannot replace it.

Further challenges come as a Christian, because our society teaches that every child has the right to explore their desires as they please. That they have the right to define for themselves what is right and wrong, good and bad. These ideas especially thrive in the schools and go against God’s way.

We recognize that these are the doctrines of Satan and stem all the way back to the beginning of mankind with Adam and Eve. It’s still the way of this world. In fact the job can be rather heartbreaking as the consequences and sufferings unfold, especially at the expense of the children.

As I personally work with the children, I try to always remember what Paul said in Ephesians 2:1-3. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lust of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (New American Standard Bible).

This section of Scripture really helps put teaching into perspective for me. Although God called me out of this world, forgave me of my sins and gave me the power of His Holy Spirit to overcome the corrupted nature in me, I too began as a child of wrath. The children I work with began this way. I hold on to the hope of their incredible future that God has for them. One day, they will have the opportunity to no longer be called children of wrath. They will be able to choose to become children of God—children with God’s Spirit of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22, New International Version).