My Struggle

Aaron posted a link today that he's planning on using in his sermon this week. He had me read it...and WOW did it hit home with me.

I've been having such a difficult time finding a Sunday School teacher first hour for our 4s and 5s class. I call the normal subs and none of them seem to want to do it, they're not excited and I get so discouraged about it. Then I read that article.

Crud. I've been going about this all wrong. I keep thinking, "I have to find a teacher." No. I don't. Well I need to do my part, but I'm not praying about it. I'm not allowing the Holy Spirit to guide someone into the position, I'm just trying to fill slots. If I keep trying to do it myself, and refuse to let God do the work then I'm no better than the prophets of Baal, dancing around and cutting myself waiting for fire to start.

Instead I need to be like Elijah. Calm and assured that God will do His part, I just have to be there and do His bidding.

So, how do stop trying to take control and allow God to do what He has the right and power to do in the first place? First of all I need to know what God wants. I can't just get ANYONE to teach these kids. I need the RIGHT person to do it. Someone who has a desire to teach them and who will do the right thing. So I went on a scripture hunt to help me.

James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

I added the italics to the parts that really stood out to me. So...who is this person??

I don't know.

To be honest I'm scared to look.

God knows their name. God knows their heart. There IS a person for this job in our congregation (or perhaps soon to be in our congregation). I need to stop recruiting and start getting on my knees and praying for whoever this is. Sure I can still make phone calls, but I'm just a tool, and God is the one who will stir the desire in this person.

So if you wouldn't mind praying for this person too, I would sure appreciate it!

Edit: Oh yeah, and actually it would be ideal to have at least 5 people step up and join the children's ministry as teachers & helpers so that we can have at least 2 people in every classroom. But I figure, if God can bring me one person, 5 isn't too big of a job for Him! It sounds SUPER impossible to me, but God is good at doing the impossible!