Recently, I was praying and asking God to show me where He wants me to go/serve and that I may walk in obedience.
I imagined serving in something glamorous like worshiping on the stage, but as I sat in church that day, we were having a final goodbye for the children’s ministry leader.
Now, I love children so, I was excited! People always tell me that I’m good with kids, so I figured that I could relate with them. I was nervous, but I decided to commit.
I was warned multiple times that these kids could get out of control, but I had confidence in myself.
After setting plans for the first day of what worship songs to sing and our discussion questions, I arrived prepped and ready to enter. What happened when I arrived? Lo and behold, they were quietly watching a movie and I realized that if it was going to be this simple, I was meant to serve in this ministry.
It wasn’t until 20 minutes later when we had one kid standing on a table, two others spinning in a circle hysterically, and another coming to me crying about another kid being mean, while the rest were running around, that I realized that I was in way over my head. I was ready to run out, literally.
I was like, Peace out!
The next time I was supposed to go in, I didn’t want to. This headache already started forming when I anticipated what was waiting for me, but I grudgingly decided to go.
I realized that I was carrying a burden that day because I had shouldered the full responsibility and thought that if I don’t come through, who will? Right before I left the house, I prayed and asked God just for peace and that He would give me patience
It was a shift. I walked in and there was this indescribable calm in the room. Not only from my surroundings, but even in myself.
The kids were attentive, but what amazed me was that there were people roaming around and preparing snacks for the kids.
When I was reflecting on this later, I realized what was missing the first time around. I was relying on myself, my own intellect, my personality and skills to do God’s work.
No matter how much I had prepped for the battle, I forgot the main weapon. I forgot to invite God into the place He called me to go.
He not only reminded me that He is there, but He had provisions in the form of a community.
We forget that when we have a job or purpose to accomplish, that it doesn’t fall only on our shoulders.
In the story where God had called Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses responded, “I am nobody. How can I go to the king and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
God answered, “I will be with you, and when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain. That will be the proof that I have sent you.” (Exodus 3:12)
God is saying, what I call you for, you are not doing it alone. I will be with you.
It is a continuous reliance on Him, because when we stray and think we “got” it on our own, we quickly realize that we can’t sustain the work. He continuously strengthens us in the work He has prepared for us.
God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient- Colossians 1:11
Graceful Strides 