How to Keep Going When Homeschooling Feels Hard
Homeschool
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What Hebrews 11–12 Teaches Us About Endurance, Faith, and Dropping the Weights We Weren’t Meant to Carry
By Tricia Goyer
Have you ever tried to walk in a straight line while looking sideways? It’s nearly impossible. You drift toward whatever has your attention.
I’ve found the same thing happens in homeschooling. When my eyes are on the curriculum we still haven’t finished, the homeschool room that looks like a paper factory exploded, or the math lesson that ended in tears (again), I drift too—usually toward discouragement or distraction.
But today’s reading in Hebrews 11–12 offers something steady to look at. Something strong enough to keep us moving forward when we feel like quitting.
And if you’re a homeschool parent, you likely know that feeling well.
When It Feels Like You Can’t Keep Going
There are days in homeschooling where it feels like you’re running a marathon with a backpack full of bricks:
- the pressure to do everything right
- the fear that your child is “behind”
- the comparison trap
- the guilt of unfinished to-do lists
- the exhaustion of juggling school, meals, chores, and life
Some days, you’re not sprinting—you’re limping. Maybe even crawling.
If that’s you, friend, take a breath. Hebrews 11–12 is God’s gentle hand on your shoulder saying, “Don’t give up. Look at Me.”
The Hall of Faith: Ordinary People Who Kept Going
We sometimes imagine Noah, Abraham, and Moses as spiritual superheroes. But Scripture doesn’t present them that way. They weren’t fearless. They weren’t flawless. They weren’t endlessly confident.
They were simply people who kept walking toward God, even when they didn’t understand, didn’t see results, and didn’t feel strong.
That alone should be a comfort to homeschooling parents.
We don’t have to be extraordinary. We just have to keep going.
The Secret to Endurance
Hebrews 12:1–2 tells us:
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…”
Endurance isn’t smiling through stress.
It’s not pretending everything is peaceful.
It’s not pushing harder and hoping you don’t fall apart.
Endurance is changing what—or Who—you look at.
When we look at Jesus:
- our pace steadies
- our priorities align
- our heart softens
- our fears quiet down
And we remember:
He didn’t call us to homeschool because we’re capable. He called us because He is.
The Surprising Difference Between “Sin” and “Weight”
Hebrews 12:1 points out something many of us miss:
“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that trips us up.”
The author separates sins from weights.
Sin is obvious.
But weights?
Weights are often good things—simply not God-asked things.
Some common “weights” homeschool parents carry:
- trying to coordinate the “ideal” learning plan
- overscheduling out of fear your child will miss an opportunity
- managing everyone’s emotions
- keeping a house that looks Pinterest-ready
- doing every subject, every day, with excellence
- comparing your homeschool with the family on Instagram
None of these are sinful.
But they’re heavy.
And heavy makes you tired.
Running Your Race, Not Someone Else’s
Hebrews 12:1 says we’re to run “the race set before us”—not the race set before the homeschool mom on social media with color-coded binders and children who apparently love Latin.
Your race is:
- your kids
- your home
- your season
- your gifts
- your story
- your capacity
It’s not supposed to look like anyone else’s.
You aren’t competing.
You’re following.
What the “Cloud of Witnesses” Really Means for You
For years, I pictured the cloud of witnesses sitting in a stadium critiquing me:
“Look at Tricia, losing her patience again.”
“She forgot the science experiment… again.”
But that’s not what Hebrews teaches.
These are not critics.
They are cheerleaders—people who have completed their race and are shouting:
“We know it’s hard! Keep going! Jesus is worth it!”
They’re not measuring your performance.
They’re reminding you of the finish.
Jesus: Your Pacer in This Homeschool Race
Jesus doesn’t wait at the finish line tapping His foot.
He runs with you.
He sets the pace.
He carries what you can’t.
He strengthens what feels weak.
He leads your children more faithfully than you ever could.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed today, it might not be because you’re doing something wrong.
It might be because you’re carrying something Jesus never asked you to.
A Homeschool Exercise: The “Baggage Check”
This is simple, but powerful.
Grab a journal or a piece of notebook paper.
Draw two columns:
Left Column:
“The Weights”
(What feels heavy in homeschooling right now?)
Right Column:
“The Question”
(Did God actually ask me to carry this?)
Examples:
Weight: My child needs to be in every extracurricular so they don’t miss out.
The Question: Did God ask for this—or is this fear of comparison?
Weight: Guilt that we’re behind in history.
The Question: Who defines “behind”—God or me?
If God didn’t hand it to you, you can set it down.
Light feels holy.
Heavy is optional.
Lift Your Drooping Hands, Strengthen Your Weak Knees
Homeschool parent, if today you feel:
- weary
- discouraged
- distracted
- overwhelmed
Hear the encouragement of Hebrews 12:12:
“Lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.”
Strength doesn’t come from trying harder.
It comes from looking up.
You don’t have to sprint.
You just have to take the next faithful step.
And Jesus is taking it with you.
Let’s Talk
What is one “weight” you need to set down this week in your homeschooling journey?
Leave a comment—I’d love to hear from you.
With grace and hope,
Tricia
Need a Homeschool Pick-Me-Up?
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