If Not Us..Then Who?

My husband and I work in our churches youth group. Through the years of working with kids in various programs one thing I realize is….This world is broken mess!! Satan is having a field day with our families and the kids pay the price. Thank goodness we have a Savior...whew!!

There are nights I come home from our youth group at church and I weep for the hurting kids. Some of them have major struggles and obstacles that NO child should ever have to face. I turn my eyes to heaven and say," God why don’t you do something?"….Most  times I hear him say “I did…I created YOU!! “

The above words are to a song, but man do they hit home for me.

We have had many a lesson with the kids on being salt and light in this world…which is much easier said than done.  It’s always easier to say...well someone else will do something.  But what if everyone had that attitude? Yikes!! This place really would be hell on earth.  Just think if the disciples had that attitude. The good news of Jesus would have never been spread.

Youth ministry can be very challenging and very rewarding. Many of the kids are far from mature in their faith. Some of the kids are behaviorally challenging; they act on impulse, they say things that make us cringe. They run hard after God, but sometimes fall just as hard in the process.  It’s our job to pick them up, brush them off, and show them what Jesus love looks like. And through it all, it’s us, the adult leaders that learn that we serve a very big God!!

We shuffle teens to music concerts, we walk the halls of nursing homes with these teen  singing carols and watching faces light up. We shush when they talk too loud or and give the eye when giggling at inappropriate times. We breathe in air that no human should breathe in. We break up fights, we dry tears, we listen, we hug, but most of all we love a 1 Corinthians love.

I can see why serving the youth would be intimidating. With all the challenges, problems and frustrations that come with adolescences.  Why would anyone want to get involved?

Well I have asked myself that a time or two; especially when I’m dragging my behind in to church on a Wednesday night after a day of being pulled in a million different directions with my own kids and work. Trust me the couch sounds really good.  

But let me share just one experience that happened during one of our small groups. 

  

It was a lesson on love, and forgiveness. A girl shared with us that she hadn’t seen her dad is 4 years.  Tears streamed down her young face.  She shared with us she just couldn’t figure out why her biological dad didn’t love her. She wondered what she did wrong, what was wrong with her?  Sigh!!  This is when the holy spirit shows up BIG TIME.

I can’t remember all I said to this beautiful girl. But I can tell you this…God used me because I was open to be used.  I poured God’s truth and love into this girl. But what was even more beautiful is that the other girls in the group poured love into her too. They laid hands on her and prayed over her, and they cried with her. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced, and you could feel a very holy presence of God in the room. She felt love, she felt excepted, and she felt worthy. I thought to myself isn’t that how we all want to feel?

Now this is how God uses people!! Gives me goose bumps!!

You can tell a child Jesus loves them. But it takes YOU listening, praying and investing time with them. Only then will they FEEL the love of Jesus. 

You serve because that’s what Jesus did.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."(Mark 10:45) 

I personally don’t serve so I can boast; it’s to bring glory to my father in Heaven.  I serve because I want each one of these kids to fall in love with Jesus and live a life on fire for the one who saved them.  I serve because this world is broken and we all need the love of a savior.  I serve because each child needs to feel excepted, worthy, and loved.  That happens when God says “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

If not us…then who? Have you ever felt a tug to work in youth ministry? Let me encourage you to give it a try.  It’s not just rewarding for the kids but yourself as well. Are you opened to be used by God?

Father God, I thank you for your mercy and your love. Help me Lord when I want to grumble and complain and feeling overwhelmed by the burdens of this world.  Lord help me to trust in you with all my heart when kids come to me with their problems. Help me to see that you have a plan and a purpose for them, and that you work all things for good. Help me to lean not on my understanding but may I submit to you Lord and your will for my life. Make my paths straight Lord. Continue to give me a servant’s heart lord so I can point the youth to you. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you Lord the author and the finisher of our faith.
I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen

If not us, then who? If not me then who? Right now, it's time for us to do something.
If not now, then when? Will we see an end, to all this pain? It’s time for us to do something. ~matthew west