When I was in college, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with a local youth ministry. It’s funny looking back now at how influential these people were in shaping my calling and my life. I started attending the youth group in the fall of my sophomore year in college. The following spring I was approached about mentoring a 6th grade girl as she went through Confirmation class. I thought this sounded like a great idea. Not only would I get to serve, I would have the opportunity to get to know a family in the church. This would help me establish a “church home away from home” that I so deeply desired.
I started meeting weekly on Wednesdays with my mentee, and since she was already in my small group at church, we had no problem getting the ball rolling. Eight weeks came and went, and she was confirmed one Sunday morning. For two years after that we continued to meet on Wednesday afternoons to hang out.
Years later, the Lord brought me to a blog post where the woman writing was remembering her call to ministry. She said, “I remembered some things I needed to be reminded of: that we didn’t mentor people because we wanted to start a mentoring program, but that God led us to mentor people and that’s why we ended up starting a mentoring program. Our end goal never skipped past the people who were right in front of us, and I want to keep living that way. To recognize the holy ways that God slips people into our lives (for a season or forever) who we will learn from and with.”
I didn’t realize it until later, but I was learning from and with this sweet girl who I was mentoring. The Lord knew what He was doing when He brought me to my church and to this family. I am eternally grateful that His plan is larger than mine.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Our God always has the bigger picture in mind.
Who has God slipped into your life that He is calling you to learn from and with? My mentee graduates high school this year, and I could not be more proud of the woman she has grown into.
Thank you, Lord that you are in the business of bringing about mutual encouragement from relationships that are centered on you. Thank You that no relationship is too small to be used in big ways for Your glory. And finally, Thank You for never letting us underestimate the power of loving and serving one another.
