What do you do when God asks you to give up a ministry you love? You trust that what He gives you in its place is just as meaningful and important as what you’ve surrendered to Him. It will be different, but it will be good.
That’s what happened to a friend of mine last summer.
This gal does everything with excellence. I had the privilege of being under her leadership in a ministry we both love, and nothing she ever did was half-hearted. She was always well-prepared, skilled in leading discussions, and faithful and attentive to me and the other women she shepherded. We loved her, she loved us, and none of us ever doubted that. She went above and beyond her expected responsibilities. In fact, she spoiled us. An excellent baker, she often gifted us with the latest treasures from her oven, accompanied by thoughtful notes of encouragement. All of this was an overflow of her deep love for Jesus.
She’d been serving in that ministry for a few years and had no plans to step away any time soon. Until God nudged her.
It started with Him impressing on her the need to pray more fervently and faithfully for her family. She obeyed.
Then came another nudge. She began to feel an unusual unrest about continuing in her beloved ministry role. This was unsettling because that ministry and the women she’d met over the years were so dear to her. What was God up to?
Spring rolled around, and with it came another nudge. God gifted her and her husband with their second beautiful grandgirl! But that precious little one was frail and seemed to often be in discomfort. Fortunately, doctors were able to quickly determine the cause of her pain, and she began treatment for a chronic illness that would require diligent, long-term care. My friend shared, “We saw improvement in her demeanor and digestion with the very first treatment! It was like God was saying, ‘See, I’ve got this!’”
The idea of travel plans that had been a year in the making caused my friend additional stress, particularly over being away from family at this challenging time. The Holy Spirit again nudged her to surrender her concerns and other needs to the Lord. A prayer warrior sent her an encouraging note at the perfect time reminding her to trust in Him, stay in the Word, and rely on His promises.
They took the trip, and it was wonderful! It was almost as if the Lord were giving her a restful, fun time away to prepare her for the transition He was orchestrating for when she returned.
The sense that God was asking her to surrender her ministry grew stronger so she met with her ministry leader and laid out her family situation. She asked her leader to join her in praying for confirmation from God on her next steps.
Then came the gentle rain of His answer to their prayers – first in an unrelated conversation with a friend who shared the exact principles she needed to hear; then the wise, gentle words of her husband as they spent time in the Word together; and then an emphatic message in their Bible study to finally “follow through with what He had already impressed on (her) spirit months before.” She turned in her resignation from her ministry position.
All that nudging toward a decision God had been calling her to all along. She surrendered a ministry she loved for a ministry just as meaningful and important – serving her family by carrying increased responsibilities in caring for their granddaughters and being available when extra help was needed. She said, “We welcome the opportunity to love and nurture (our granddaughters) and teach them God’s Word and His promises through music, books, and gentle conversation. We are so very grateful for this sweet time with them!”
She concluded, “Each day is a gift, and we don’t take that for granted…(God) is with us every step of the way, and His Word and His armor equip us and protect us. Surrender is difficult, but it brings such relief and peace when we finally let go and let God! All glory to His name!”
And I have a feeling that there will be a season in the future when that ministry she surrendered to serve her family will one day be a beautiful part of her life again.
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Giver of every good and perfect gift, I worship and thank You! You’re my Provider. As I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, You generously meet my every need. Your ways, Lord, are incomprehensible. Thank You that when I’m at a loss of understanding for what You’re asking of me, You’ve proven Yourself trustworthy. As I commit my way to You, I’m confident You’ll act in accordance with Your good and perfect will. You are the Potter. I am the clay. I humbly surrender my good plans in exchange for Your most excellent plans. According to Your Word, whatever I give up to You for the furtherance of Your kingdom will be abundantly repaid – if not in this life, in the next. I lift my praise to You – my faithful, sovereign, all-wise, gracious God of love! In Jesus’ beautiful Name, amen. (James 1:17, Matthew 6:33, Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 37:5, Isaiah 64:8, Mark 10:28-30)
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Thank you for joining in this week’s Scripture memory challenge as we commit to our hearts and minds Psalm 100. This week, we’re adding verse 3 to last week’s passage of Psalm 100:1-2.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He Who made us, and we are His; We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” - Psalm 100:1-3 (ESV)
