It Could Happen To You

Do you ever impose limits on God?  I would like to think that I haven’t, but that just isn’t true.  I’ve known that God can use and work through me.  This has been a recurring theme in my prayer life from the very beginning of my involvement in ministry.  Even though I am familiar with the idea that God wants to use us, I know that I have greatly underestimated the ways in which He wants to use me in particular… well, until recently that is.
When I was just starting out as a middle school youth minister back in August, I was ready and excited to see what God had in store for both me, and the youth of my new parish.  I knew that I would get discouraged, frustrated and not know what to do at times, but I also knew that through the power of prayer and frequenting the sacraments, God would sustain me to do His work.  I also understood that the Holy Spirit would guide the ministry and work through me, if I let Him. 
Even though I knew that God would respond if I called, it took me a few months for this to become a reality.  This wasn’t because God wasn’t showing up.  It was because I wasn’t calling on Him.  On our first youth night back from Thanksgiving, everything felt like it was business as usual. The problem was, ministry’s not supposed to be that way.  I left that night frustrated, wondering where I was going wrong.  I took this frustration to prayer, and boy was I surprised by what God had to say in response.  He said, “Jeremy, you are not leading these youth the way I want you to.”  I was startled by this, and even a little embarrassed.  God didn’t just leave things right there though.  He continued by revealing to me that I was not leading the youth into a closer relationship with Him.  I was only giving them information about God and His Church, and hoping that the relationship would just follow.  As ministers we can’t do this.  Knowledge of Christ won’t make it to the heart if we don’t have a relationship with him.
After this prayer encounter, I knew on our next youth night we had to have a strong focus on our relationship with God.  The youth needed to see what that relationship looked like, and how to learn to be open to God’s invitation to know Him and receive His love.  They also needed a chance to be guided in prayer, to practice relating things to God.  Everything we did that next week flowed from what God had revealed to me in prayer.  At the end of the night, I was so excited and received so much peace knowing that I was back on track, and leading my youth in the right direction. 
I was so surprised at the way God was working in my prayer life.  I have seen God use other people this way, such as priests, praise and worship leaders, and even other youth ministers, but for some reason I didn’t think He could use me.  I guess I just thought that I would never be holy enough.  But, it was asking Him to guide me, and then being open, listening, and trusting that He would come through.  God wants to move through His Church.  We’re all called to be saints, even me.
Now, asking God for his direction in youth ministry is a regular part of my prayer life.  You might be like me, and think that God can’t possibly use you to lead in this way but there will be a response from the youth.   Why, because the Holy Spirit will be at work.  When you’re frustrated, take it prayer, and you could be surprised at what God reveals to you.  Sometimes we don’t ask for the guidance in the first place because of the trusting part, which is the hardest.  It can be scary at times to trust God and wait for Him, but the ministries you are involved with are worth it to God, and He will come through.
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