Change of Plans

Me: I don’t have to come to the meeting today because I’m on work crew, correct?

Mrs. Rhonda: Uhhhh Sister, you’re a small group leader! So yes, you have to be there!

(My heart started pounding and face looking like I just dropped my phone in the bath…)

Me: What?! I signed up for work crew! Nobody told me!

Mrs. Rhonda: Oh yes! You are a small group leader!

3 Sundays ago, I signed up to be on work crew for 6th — 8th grade middle school Castle Bluff. I was so excited because I hadn’t ever been on work crew before and it was going to be a new experience to encounter. Little did I know, they actually placed me to lead a small group. ALONE. What?!?! Once again, The Lord is taking me on a crazy journey. I expected to go to this camp completely in my comfort zone…serving kids, hanging out with kids my age, and just chilling. The Lord had a whole different plan for this weekend. I will be taking on a 7th or 8th grade small group all by myself. Honestly, I am freaking out. I am so worried about the girls not liking me…I’m worried about me not saying the right things…I’m worried about not knowing the answers to their questions. It’s scary, and I have not been preparing my heart for this. Yes, I have been in The Word and in prayer with The Lord, but I haven’t been asking for Him to prepare me to lead 12–13 year old girls closer to Him.

Why does God do this? Why is He taking me out of my place of solace and dragging me to a place of discontentment? The only answer can be to bring me closer to Him. I have found in the past, that it is so rewarding when I am obedient to God’s will instead of my own. God never promises that following Him will be easy. In fact, I am realizing that even more as I try and prepare my heart for the weekend ahead.

So, as this week goes on, I ask that you please pray for me. I want God to start preparing my heart for the uncomfortable things that will arise this weekend, and that I will know what to say when asked questions I may or may not know the answer to. More than anything please pray that God will use every flawed aspect of my life so these girls might see a glimpse of Christ within me. One thing I know for sure is that I am nothing without Him!

Thank you for reading. G3.

“Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.”