Kid's Ministry Coffee Break | A Few Minutes of Spiritual Refreshment for Children & Youth Ministers.
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
"FEAR BELONGS IN THE CAR" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 33: Using the image offered by Liz Gilbert, we have the opportunity to re-evaluate our relationship with a potentially good friend in FEAR.
"FEAR BELONGS IN THE CAR" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 33: Using the image offered by Liz Gilbert, we have the opportunity to re-evaluate our relationship with a potentially good friend in FEAR.
I’m going to share the idea and my own thoughts on her idea and image that have been helpful to me over the last several years in ministry—especially the last few during one of the most difficult seasons I’ve encountered in ministry.
Perhaps you can relate to the struggle that so many felt since early 2020.
If you’re like me, you may have been conditioned to think that you mustn’t focus on how difficult things have been. Rather, you should try to ignore the difficulty and focus on the positive. This kind of thinking can lead to you feeling it is wrong to acknowledge, name, and confront the difficult days.
It’s not wrong.
That’s the main idea I want to share behind today’s image from Liz Gilbert.
The image is about FEAR.
If we were to personify the emotions we feel, we’d have quite a crowd of people around us — joy, frustration, envy, ambition, excitement, and, of course…fear.
Many times in ministry we deal with fear.
When you have a new idea…or you try a new program…or you involve a new volunteer…or you have a student with unique needs…or something about this season is harder than normal…like a pandemic…
When you have to make decisions you didn’t anticipate…
When you take a risk…
There’s fear. https://sundayschool.store/products/faith-over-fear-curriculum-hebrews-11
The problem is, we are often told that fear is bad.
Worse than that, we are told that fear is the opposite of faith.
It’s not.
Fear is a useful tool.
Fear has kept us alive many times in our lives.
Fear reminds you of what could go wrong…
or what you are risking to take a chance.
Fear makes you think about things in a healthy way.
If your life and personality are envisioned as a car driving down the road of life, you most certainly want fear in the car.
You don’t want to just go with any idea you have without thinking about the consequences.
While fear belongs in the car, Gilbert says, you don’t want it behind the wheel.
Make friends with your fear.
Consider what fear has to teach you about yourself and your calling.
Let fear have a voice in the conversation, but don’t let it take the lead.
Don’t try to resist fear or silence it.
It’s a God-given emotion and tool that can help you make good decisions.
Don’t try to be some heroic minister who is never afraid.
Being brave isn’t about not having fear…
Being afraid and trying anyway…that’s being brave.
So be brave and be bold in your ministry…but keep fear in the car.
Let God use your fear to help drive you into taking new chances and trying new things.
Celebrate the moments when you feel fear…and do the new thing anyway.
Message brought to you be Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum (Student ministry resources available on The Sunday School Store written by he and Lauren Sanford). https://sundayschool.store/collections/curriculum
Music by The Muse Maker
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