make disciples
Approximately in March of 2022, I felt strongly that the Lord put on my heart to lead a youth group. I asked in prayer “Why Lord?” I didn’t think I knew many kids in the community and how it was going to happen.
Weeks went by, while at this time we had a teen staying with us. His parents, who we had known, had let him come stay with us for him to catch up on school so he could graduate. Meanwhile, I started seeing things a little differently. I remembered the words “Making disciples” that He gave me earlier; I began to see more of what He was talking about. I got to know the kids that our student brought home a little more and before you know it the youth group formed. It was so easy; I knew that was in the Lord’s plan.
I’ve always struggled with teaching, since I don’t feel like it’s one of my giftings, but I led the group and struggled through it. I found a helper -- that was another gift of God -- and he was so knowledgeable in the bible and from then on led the bible studies. The thing I saw was…these kids were so hungry, and some might say starving, for the Word, like I have never seen before. Some were already believers and knew the bible. But the beauty I was seeing is, as we let the kids just be kids and asked them life stuff about what was happening in their life -- school, gossip, their deepest struggles, relationships, etc. -- we started relating it to the bible and taught them how to apply it to everyday living. Things started to change in them. There was a shift in each of them. Even in our group chat for who was able to attend our next group meeting, there was more of a sense of excitement about being there. Or they couldn’t because of sports or whatever, and they would express their disappointment but eagerness to go to the next one. More and more they opened up and shared in our safe place, and I saw their bond with each other. It was so special…. I’m literally tearing up over just thinking about it while typing this!
You guys, that IS what the Lord was calling me to do! And because I witnessed seeing Him work in everyone, who were so open to learning more about Him, it grew my faith and belief in Him even more. And when I learned that our new church's mission was in growing us in the Word and making us disciples, I felt my heart skip a beat. “BINGO!" I thought. I’m just so excited to be a witness and to share what He’s capable of doing through us, if we are willing to allow Him to use us wherever He’s calling us to. I struggled through knowing how to lead the youth group but if I let insecurities take over and focus on those weaknesses, I would have missed the opportunity to get to know Him even more.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I’m getting more and more comfortable with Him sending me into these different situations that I don’t plan on but I know He’s calling me to do. “I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
When that’s our focus, it’s amazing how our faith grows as we fully trust in Him and learn to lean into Him for guidance. Because He knows what we’re capable of. After all…He created us!
Thus far, the biggest and most faith challenging calling was shortly after starting the youth group. But, I’ll save that for another day. 😊
