Is God calling you to change something?

“Change? Again? I like things the way they are and don’t want to try something new!”

While this might be the complaint of a child being asked one more time to try broccoli, it’s more likely the complaint of those on your leadership team. Or…dare we say it? It might be you!

When Trying Something New Doesn’t Seem Like A Priority…

Let’s be honest. As leaders, as much as we love what we do, there are days we’re exhausted. We’re juggling all kinds of responsibilities. We’ve settled more than our share of conflicts, answered endless questions, finished something that wasn’t our responsibility, and the list goes on. We have a heart for serving, but it’s not always easy and trying something new or making a change just doesn’t seem like a priority.

3 Options For Dealing With Change

God doesn’t say ministry is going to be easy. He doesn’t promise a pothole-free, no roadblocks, construction-free path. So what are our options?

1. Continue down the road, grumbling with every swerve and bump.
2. Sit beside the road and throw a pity party.
3. Pull over and switch drivers.

We might try options 1 and 2 for awhile, but if we’re listening to God, we’ll eventually get to the last one. Pull over and switch drivers, letting God steer the car, put on the brakes, or press the accelerator.

The Best Option Puts God In The Driver Seat

We might as well choose it first. God already knows our attitudes, issues, and thoughts. He’s proven himself trustworthy with them, so why do we keep pushing through, neglecting to give him everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly? The short answer is: We’re human, and we’re selfish. But let’s not turn that into an excuse. It helps us understand why we do what we do, but it doesn’t justify it. After all, if our ministries are committed to God, as they should be, we have all the strength, resources, and direction we need. We just have to access it.

A Devotion To Help You Embrace Change

Start with prayer to open up your heart. Then read through the following verses:

Strength: “He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Psalm 23:3

Resources: “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” 2 Corinthians 9:10

Direction: “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” Psalm 32:8

Spend several minutes reflecting on these verses. Then answer the following questions. Write your thoughts. When you respond honestly, you own up to your experiences, and you’re one step closer to giving God ownership.

• Which of the following am I struggling with most right now in ministry: strength, resources, or direction?
• On a scale from 1 to 10, who do I rely on the most for strength, resources, and direction in ministry? (1=I try to manage completely on my own. 10=I rely completely on God.)
• Revisit the verse given above for the area of ministry you’re most struggling with and trying to manage on your own. Write it. Say it aloud. Pray it. Own it.

God wants to grow his kingdom. That means he wants more people to know him better. That’s what drives ministry. He’s in control, and it’s time to set aside our own ambitions for control. He’s much better at ministry than we are!