I desire to serve God. I assume that must mean pastor’s wife, but what happens if God has other plans?
Ever since I remember, my parents were missionaries. I even had my own ministry for a few years before I married a software engineer. God seems to have answered all my prayers except the one to be a pastor’s wife. My desire to serve others still exists, but it’s worked out much differently than what I originally pictured. My desire to serve others in ministry—as a full time job is a good thing. However, my question for you (and me) is what happens when life and ministry don’t work out the way you thought? At all?
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out” (Luke 10:2-3).
Doing the work is just as important as sending the workers. Before you decide what God wants you to do, it’s important to establish your role in the Kingdom.
Know your role.
It’s important to take the necessary time to figure out what you’re good at. Maybe you’re a great singer, dancer, Bible teacher or musician.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Often in making decisions and thinking about the future—even in praying about the future—we make assumptions that limit (in our minds at least) the options available. Like assuming you can serve God only within the four walls of a church. Or assuming a woman can serve only as a wife.
You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13a, 14-16).
Good deeds equal many opportunities. In my early twenties, I raised support and moved out of state for a discipleship training school. After that experience I knew the mission field was not for me, writing was. Just like you, I needed to give myself permission to transition. To think of ministry in terms of bigger than just the four walls of a church.
Maybe you need to join a summer project, travel overseas, or serve at your local church. Commitments are important to God—especially ministry work. Before you commit your life away, learn what part of the world you’re passionate about. Then travel there, or live there. Learn what cause you’re most burdened for. Then do something about it.
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
God’s perfect timing
Now that I know I have more options than to become a pastor’s wife, I’ve actually been able to travel, work with many cool missions organizations and write about my experiences.
When you focus on the ministry God has for you, like me, have you noticed life is actually better?
The best advice I ever received on the subject was from (guess?) a pastor. His encouraging words went something like this, “It doesn’t matter if you marry a pastor because right now you’re single. Don’t worry about it until you’re actually in a relationship with someone. Wait until He sends someone, and then figure it out and go from there!” Best. Advice. Ever.
I was so worried about my future husband’s trade that I wasn’t seeing all the amazing ministry opportunities God was sending my way! Thankfully, I wised up and started working hard.
As it turns out, God answered my prayers but not in the way I pictured. My husband and I care very much for missions. While I was learning my role, my future husband was doing the same in Nepal, Costa Rica, Panama, Kazakhstan and Colorado. Although he and I are not working in ministry full time, our thoughts, prayers and spare finances go mostly towards missions. Who knows? Maybe some day God will send us together somewhere to plant a church, go overseas or both. Until then, I’m learning to be content because He knows better than I do.
Justice doesn’t discriminate.
As a woman in the church, I assumed I had only one option. Thankfully, the God of Justice does not discriminate. Every week I receive an email, post or tweet from a peer who has the desire to serve others, but he or she doesn’t know how. I don’t judge them because I used to be that someone.
