I know that I’m not alone when I say that there have been times when I’ve been tired and tired of being tired. Can you identify with this? If you’ve worked in any type of ministry for any length of time, it is easy to want to just give up. You’ve been in the same church and in the same classroom doing the same thing week after week, month after month, year after and year and you are (to use Southern vernacular) just slap worn out. It would be so easy to just turn in your resignation and make your years of ministry a distant memory. You’ve paid your “dues”. Now, it’s time for someone else to do what you’ve done.
I’ll admit, I’ve been there … and not just once or twice. So, how have I kept on doing what I’ve been doing for 35+ years? You and I both know that children’s ministry doesn’t have a huge number of “veterans”. What is the secret to my longevity? Here’s what keeps me keeping on …
“God, by whom you have been marked out in his purpose,
is unchanging and will make it complete.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24 (The Bible in Basic English)
During these times, I have to remind myself that I’m not the initiator of my being in children’s ministry. This wasn’t my thought or my idea. According to Paul’s writing, I’ve been called or marked out in His purpose. In other words, God Himself placed me where I am. It’s His plan that I’m in children’s ministry. I’m doing what I was created to do.
And, here’s the part of the verse that is my motivator. The God who has set me apart for this ministry is faithful. His track record is impeccable. He has no mistakes or failures on His record. As I keep on doing what He has set me apart to do, the faithful God will fulfill His plans in my life.
Quit? Are you kidding? Retire? Not on your life. This faithful God isn’t through with me yet. There are plans that are still incomplete. We’ve got more to do to see them as a finished product. So, I’ll wrap up this blog so that I can get back to the work. There’s still more to be done.
