This summer I 5-4-3-2-1 volunteered to write a chapter for a book on leadership. I have never written anything for publication. Never. I was assigned the topic: overcoming fear of change. I was recently informed that my chapter was selected for print, and I should be receiving my very own copy in the mail soon. At a minimum, the editor thought it would bless others, so I will include my work here for you, friend. Note: this book was written for a specific audience of people who serve the Lord through children’s ministries. I think, however, that many of my heart’s thoughts can be of use in the home, relationships, service, work, etc.
“Fear is a Liar” Zach Williams
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
‘Cause fear he is a liar
A foundation of faith through the challenge of change.
We all know that the only thing constant is change (Heraclitus). The experience is common and expected, yet it often produces fear. We fear the unknown outcomes of the future. An unexpected change can lead to uncertainty. Still, we know that change moves us forward. As believers we have a longing for the metamorphosis of becoming a new creation. I love how the New Living Translation presents this verse in Romans: let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. The outcome of this change is that we will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2, NLT). In the face of change, let us replace the thoughts of fear with specific truths and actions. Focus on the fulfilled promises of God, set firm priorities, follow a clear vision, embrace flexibility, commit to fervent service, and be in the habit of faithful prayer.
When change stirs anxiety, we remember the promises of God fulfilled in His Word and in our life experiences. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able (Daniel W. Whittle). The refrain of this hymn expresses a simple and profound truth about the God we are pleased to know and serve. He is able. Throughout the scripture we see God making and keeping promises to those who seek him. A promise of victory over sin from Genesis 3:15, Psalm 32:1, 1 Corinthians 15:57, and Revelation 19:1-16. A promised home; a place of belonging in this life and for eternity presented in Genesis 35:12, Psalm 16:5-6, and John 14:2-3. Unending love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness written in Lamentations 3:22-24 and 1 Corinthians 12:9. It is a comfort to remember that My God is so great so strong and so mighty. There’s nothing my God cannot do. In our daily time with God, we can ask Him to speak these promises over us. We can write them on notes tucked into our planners or stuck to the computer screen and bathroom mirror. We can take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV) without fear. I have a sister in the Lord who has posted a simple piece of paper in her kitchen on which she builds a visual altar of praise to the Lord. Each time she recognizes something God has done to bring her good or to glorify himself through her circumstances, she draws a stone. A few words describe the significance of each stone, and she watches her blessings stack up each day. Like Samuel we can lift up our own stones called Ebenezer and say, “The Lord has helped us to this point” (1 Samuel 7:12, HCSB). The implication is that based on this knowledge of the Lord our helper, we can expect Him to faithfully see us through whatever comes next. We can replace the fear of change with faith. The Bible gives us a written record of God’s promises fulfilled throughout history, and we can expect to see the same God at work changing our lives and impacting the lives around us.
Change can feel threatening to our routines, but it does not have to be a destructive force in our lives. Having firm priorities can anchor our thoughts and actions when circumstances are in flux. God reveals His plan for our time and energy in the greatest commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV). He personalizes this command as He has given us each individual skills, talents, passions, gifts, families, ministries, and interests. I categorize and order the important things in my personal life something like this: 1) God, 2) Household/Family – spouse, children, extended, 3) Church – relationships, commitments, 4) Work, 5) Neighbors/outreach. As we experience change, let us monitor the impact on these priorities. Our relationship with God should continue to grow as we have need of Him. Marriage and family were set up as priority social organizations from the foundations of Genesis. As ministry leaders, let us not forget to protect our family time and plan our schedule accordingly. We can pray for our church. We should fulfill our responsibilities to the local body with commitment and contentment. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain (Philippians 2:14-16, ESV).
Prioritizing our time and energy is crucial for those of us who are volunteer leaders, bi-vocational kidmin servants, or full-time staff ministers. If you have an additional occupation, balancing the responsibilities of work and ministry can be the most challenging. Work may have deadlines, hourly requirements, and assigned tasks that are outside of your control. It has helped me to center my thoughts on this truth: whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV). I am reminded to serve God as my master and to bring Him glory in the way I perform my work among believers and non-believers. In the office, the home, or the church, our attitudes and actions should serve to honor the Lord rather than our own achievement. Many of us serve in full-time ministry. We need to evaluate the use of our time or resources outside of our on-the-clock hours. We need to be present for our families. We need to be still and quiet before the Lord. Pursue a deepening relationship with the Lord and seek His guidance for your own list of priorities for your personal life and ministry.
Change in our specific ministries and churches can feel like chaos for us as leaders, volunteers, the kids, or families. We also need to prioritize the tasks, events, and goals of our specific programs. Our work should build on a foundation statement of vision or mission for ministry. Work with pastors and key leaders. This is beyond how often to have kids worship or whether to have a verse memorization contest. Think bigger than your teaching schedule or curriculum for the year. What are the big picture goals of your church? What does that look like for the younger members of your church family? For example, my local church mission is: win, build, send. I took that and wrote a simple vision for our Sunday school program. I want our aim to be winning kids to Christ, building them up in their faith and worldview, and sending them into their world – family, friends, school, future, etc. with a kingdom impact. I briefly outlined some of the ways these goals will be accomplished: frequent presentations of the gospel, teaching on the character of God, building relationships between kids and God, kids and peers, kids and leaders, participating in missions, inviting friends to church etc. I want the kids in my ministry to feel safe physically and spiritually, and to know they are loved by God and by this church! Volunteers will feel empowered to meet these essential elements beyond successfully completing the planned lesson. As ministry leaders, we can feel confident in our objectives amid seasons of change in attendance, church staffing, volunteers, curriculum, or physical spaces.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well (Romans 12:6, NLT). Many of us are gifted in leadership, administration, teaching, or service. Fulfilling our responsibility does not always mean controlling the people and processes around us. One thing I wish I would have learned years ago is to cultivate an attitude of flexibility. We must be realistic in the expectations we hold for ourselves and others; reevaluate as necessary. The time required by various life responsibilities will keep changing. I began in Kidmin when I was young and single. I had plenty of time and enthusiasm. Moving into adulthood, starting a career, getting married, and buying a house expanded my to-do list while consequently limiting my unoccupied time. I am now in the season of mothering three young children. I am also a bi-vocational Kidmin leader. I teach middle school half days, care for the needs of my family in the home, and serve many hours each month coordinating children’s ministry at my church. I’ve had to learn to use my time differently to meet my personal spiritual needs, to feed my soul, and to feed the lambs in my care. I can find joy in caring for the needs of my family knowing that I am uniquely gifted to influence the children in my home. I have battled thoughts of inadequacy. I often think of all the things I wish I could do in my ministry. This has challenged me to involve more people to accomplish things I cannot do on my own, to plan more purposefully for now and the future of my ministry, and to recognize the faithfulness of God in my limitations. Ministry looks very different as a single 20-something than it does after a marriage, a move, the birth of a child, becoming a blended family, turning 40, an empty nest, a health need, a loss. Sometimes, we must redefine our view of success in ministry. As our lives and ministries change, flexibility will allow us to continue using our gifts well, seeking wisdom, and glorifying the One who gives generously to all (James 1:5, ESV).
We have heard the voice of the Lord tell us to let the little children come (Matthew 19:14, ESV). Let us be unmoved in our commitment to bringing the young hearts near to God with all our strength, for all our lives, through any change. God has already used changes to bring us to our current places of ministry. For me, the volunteer who coordinated the Sunday school program at our church wanted to hand off the leadership responsibilities to someone else. I was a faithful class leader, I had been helping prepare some of the curriculum already, and I had years of training in the field of professional education as well as Christian children’s ministry. I was the obvious choice to take on the roll, but I declined. No change needed in my life, thank you. I probably don’t have the time. Three months later, I was volun-told that no one else could do it. They needed me. I agreed to take on the coordinator position, and things ran smoothly for quite a while. A few years later, our small congregation stepped out in faith to plant a church. It was exciting, but it also meant sending approximately twenty adults to begin the work. My volunteer roster was significantly impacted. Other changes in our church leadership, attendance, and my family (babies!) over the years left me speeding toward burn out. I recall the year 2015 being particularly rough. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and discouraged. I was asking God to tell me who He wanted to really do this role well. I heard about a small Kidmin conference happening that fall. It was within my budget and my driving distance, so I registered. My husband wisely advised me that if I attended this conference, I should commit to leading the ministry for the remainder of the school year. OK, fine. One more year. During one of the presentations at that conference, a slide appeared comparing volunteer thinking my pastor called me and I can quit any time with minister thinking God called me and I can’t quit unless God lets me. So I asked God to let me quit that year. He said, “No. I called you. I am using you. I am changing you. I am at work.” I committed that week to stay in Kidmin unless God clearly calls me away. I set my commitment on two specific verses that I hope will also encourage you to commit your life to serving God’s kids. Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically (Romans 12:11, NLT). I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls (2 Corinthians 12:15, ESV).
Above all, we are more than conquerors over fear when we draw near to the Lord who gives the victory. Expressing our anxieties, questions, hopes, and joys to God is our privilege as His dear sons and daughters. In seasons of change, we have this command in scripture: Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying (Romans 12:12, NLT). Be in the habit of kneeling before the one who is faithful.Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3, NASB). Replace the fear of change in our ministries with eagerness and longing to be amazed at what God will do. Plan your time and goals. Pursue your passion considering your priorities. Allow God to use a variety of circumstances, talents, and individuals to reach his people. Never give up. Persist in prayer. We can choose to see change as an opportunity for God to work in ways far more abundantly than all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20, ESV). In his ministry, Paul repeated the words spoken to Habakkuk: look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it (Habakkuk 1:5, NLT). Are we ready to be amazed by the change God has planned for our hearts, our kids, our mission?