Welcome to what could be the best years of your life. Jump all in! For us, the youth ministry was never a stepping-stone to anything else. We were fully here and loved it. As the Lord has led in varying directions, we’ve striven to be 100% invested in each area of life, and it has proven to be an impossible task. So here we are, stretched between 6,000 miles and pray through this process, we leave them with a new perspective of missions, among other things. While we are leaving this role, there are others who are standing in the gaps. This is for the first year YP wives, the newly assigned Sunday school teacher, or wherever that applies. I don’t have much to offer other than what I have learned myself, often the hard way. Nothing deep or revolutionary, just basic, common, tried-and-true principles. You won’t experience all the same things we did, but the following principles will stand true in whatever situation you find yourself in. -Maintain a personal walk with the Lord.
(I told you it’s not deep) Nothing, not even ministry makes this a given. In fact, in some ways it makes it more difficult at times. There is never a season of life where a daily, personal walk with Him is not needed! You must have a genuine, deep, consistent relationship with Him. The teens need to see your real passion for Him and you can’t walk through this season of life without His help. Psalm 18.2, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. -Mention your “why” frequently. Know your “why” and remind yourself of it frequently. Why are you doing what you are doing? Why are you here? Why is this worth it? Is it for the kids? To see them grow and watch teenagers get saved and follow Christ? Yet another reason? These can all be good things, but if your motivator is anything other than obeying God, being faithful to Him and bringing glory to His name, it’s not going to hold up. You must know that you are exactly where He wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do. If these are your motivators, what happens when the kids hate your existence, you aren't seeing people saved, problems, issues, and disunity arise, people misunderstand and distrust you, and there is no visible growth? What is the point then? Be faithful. Even then. Especially then. Be faithful to the Lord. The increase and results are up to Him. It’ll keep you going. Not the teens, the staff, fulfilling expectations, nothing else will do. He will keep you committed and faithful. Quitting is never an option, know your ‘why’. 1 Corinthians 10.31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. -Modify expectations to transition well. Which means have no expectations? Perhaps. This is not a cannonball entrance, but a chance to learn to swim. There will be times it feels like you’re ready to go but being held back. Remember, perhaps you aren’t to do a cannonball into the pool immediately but rather, gradually get your feet wet in the shallow end - where it is not over your head- and eventually learn to swim on your own. Be patient with others and yourself. Change can be so incredibly hard and painful, but it doesn't have to be. Be yourself, be consistent, faithful + humble, give yourself + others grace, and communicate. Leave it all in His hands. Ecclesiastes 7.8, Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. -Marry your best friend. Hopefully that is already done but what I mean by that is, your first ministry is at home. “If you lose your family, you lose your ministry.” Build on your friendship. Date your husband. Protect family time. Keep it ‘all right at home.’ No matter what happens outside these walls, it is a comfort to know when you go home, that relationship is good. Put in the work to keep it a safe place. Ecclesiastes 4.9-12, Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. -Master failure. Learn from failures. You will fail. You won’t do everything right. Even if you are the only one who notices, learn from it. Be ready to learn. Be ready to listen. Be ready to consider criticism. Ask questions. You don’t know all the answers. Grow + learn from each mistake. Proverbs 24.16, For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. -Minimize yourself. You are not enough. The reason the comments, failures, and criticism hurt so much is because we think we are better than that. You cannot do this with your own strength, your own power, your own determination, your own skills. Nothing in you is good enough, smart enough, or able enough to accomplish anything for the Lord. But with God, the outcome can be entirely different. Rely on the Lord. His grace and His strength are sufficient. Proverbs 11.2, When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. -Maximize your prayer life. You cannot pray enough. Your home needs it. Your husband needs it. Your marriage needs it. Your teens need it. Your church needs it. YOU need it. War is declared the moment you step in. Spiritual warfare will be felt as never before... so pray like never before. Pray hard and often. 1 Thessalonians 5.17, Pray without ceasing. -Move bitterness far away. There will be many times where there’ll be a wide-open door for anger and bitterness to make permanent residence in your heart. Don’t give in. Don’t hold a grudge. Don’t hold a list of offences. Refuse bitterness and stay soft, it is so important. The Lord will fight for you, give it to Him. Hebrews 12.14-15, Follow peace with all men, and holiness...Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; -Manifest Christ’s love. Love them. Deeply. You’ll get hurt deeply, but Christ didn’t withhold His love from us despite knowing we would hurt Him. Not all of them will love you, or even like you, but do pray for and love on them. They need to be preached to and they need to be loved on. It’s not always convenient or easy. Often the most impactful conversations or greatest teaching opportunities are the smallest, most unexpected moments. Don’t waste them. Listen to them, especially when they think you’re not. You’ll find your own special ways of connecting with them. Love them. 1 John 4.16, And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. -Mirror Christ. You are not a repeat of anyone. There are no shoes to fill but your own. You’ll find your own activities + methods to fill in the gaps. Don’t be a copy of someone else, be like Christ. They need you. You need them. You both need Jesus most of all. Be faithful. Be bold. Be courageous. Be sweet. Be a servant. You got this! Or, rather, He’s got you!
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Lizzy parkerMarriage.
Motherhood. Ministry. Missions. Archives
January 2023
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