Getty Images, Ulf Borjesson

By Meg Stapleton Smith

The essence of my teaching has always had much less to do with concrete facts about faith, and much more to do with developing an interpersonal relationship with God. My goal as a teacher is to create a foundation upon which my students’ images of God can be nurtured. Throughout this process, I have undoubtedly come to learn immensely from my students. As their images of God matured, mine deepened as well. Yet, in the beginning of the school year, I never would have anticipated that the most meaningful lesson I would receive on God would come from the one student who doubted God’s very existence.

George is a student of mine that struggles with loneliness and depression. The trials and tribulations of his personal life have led him to constantly grapple with the very reality of God.  In the beginning of…