Let me
talk to you about God's grand plan. Quick disclaimer! I am not here to tell you
your future or mine. And I am not pretending, nor do I believe that I know
God's mind or thoughts. But I know what the Bible says, and what God has shown
me through my own life experiences. That being said I want to start my story a
little over 3 years ago.
I felt
this calling, of sorts, in my unplanned quiet time with God. I had been trying
to figure out how to be silent before God while also trying to figure out what
to do with my life. I had been out of high school almost a year and I still
didn’t know what to do. So there I was, not prepared for a revelation, but I
just kind of had a random daydream of sorts. It didn't feel like a normal,
personally made up dream either. I felt like God was telling me something about
what He wanted from me in my life. Thoughts, random thoughts, some I had never
had before, popped into my head.
One of
these thoughts was about going into children’s ministry. I prayed about it and
talked to my parents about it. I really felt like that would be my life long
career that I had been searching for. My family wanted me to go to college and
get a career. But I didn’t want to waste my time in school changing majors till
I found what I liked. So, I just floated about, trying to figure out a career
before pursuing it. When I had this random idea I thought I could get a degree
in children's ministry. My parents thought it was a good idea to talk to my
university pastor at church. So I did.
He told
me that I needed to be praying about it. I told him I had. He said that there
really wasn’t a degree for something like that, “especially since you really
won’t be teaching kids Hebrew” and such. Then he said to research what it takes
to go into such a ministry and get experience in the field, to get a feel for
it, to see if it was something I really wanted to do. He told me to volunteer
for different children's events at church like Sunday School and Vacation Bible
School.
After
taking his advice I realized I didn’t need a degree for children's ministry,
and that it wouldn't work as a life sustaining career. However, I did discover
that I loved it! Even though it was back to the drawing board on finding my
career, I discovered that I liked doing this. I loved the children and helping
them know just a little bit more about Jesus.
At the
time, though, I didn’t understand what the deal was. Did I misunderstand God?
Was it just my own thoughts? Why am I working with kids a few times a year, as
a worker, right now? This wasn’t exactly what I thought God had told me to do.
I thought for sure it was something like learning how to oversee a children’s
ministry, and in the next five years, or so, be in charge of a ministry. And
what about the other things God showed me that day?
It’s been
a little over 3 years, now. Since that time I have volunteered at 4 VBS events,
1 Parents' Day Out, and worked a semester in a Mothers of Preschoolers group.
After last week's VBS I realized I am following God's calling for my life right
now. It wasn't a call to go to college to go into children’s ministry. It was a
call to minister to children now! And I realized that it is a good feeling to
follow God’s plans. Just as I have been learning with college and God’s timing.
Unfortunately, these are not things I learned quickly or easily. This is
just me learning this now after years of struggle. But, I want to encourage you
to keep strong in your faith in God. Don’t give up on Him because He will never
give up on you!
I still have many questions, and
that initself will never end. But I trust God. That’s enough.
If you don’t have a relationship
with Jesus I encourage you to talk with someone who does. It will be the best
decision you could ever make.
2 Peter 3:9
Elizabeth :)
Jesus Loves you! <3
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