But...it's Just NOT my Gift

It happened again.

A few months ago, our children’s ministry deacon asked me to teach the first and second graders’ Bible Class this quarter.

I need to confess that I wasn’t feeling so hot about this idea. This wasn’t the first time I’d been asked. I had reluctantly agreed a few times before to teach older elementary aged students, but even after multiple attempts, I still felt overwhelmed with the task each time.

Despite my annual feeble attempts to assert to this deacon that I was happy to teach middle and high school girls, but that I have zero commanding presence with little ones so I’d likely get trampled in a stampede like Mufasa in the Lion King, he remained persistent.

It’s just not my gift, I repeatedly told myself. Wouldn’t some of our more seasoned members manage this role better? I reasoned. Plus, we all know as ministers’ wives, that our to-do list each and every time we enter the church building can be a mile long—what if I miss “so-in-so” who just returned from the hospital or I fail to greet visitors because I’m tucked away in the children’s wing? Couldn’t I use the talents God has blessed me with in a way that feels more comfortable to me?? I’m already doing ________, ________, ________, annnnnd ___________ -- couldn’t somebody else pick up this task? (PS: You can fill in those blanks with your own laundry list of perceived expectations, because I know you have them, too!)

And listen, I’m a big believer that God is a giver of good gifts to His children. And I believe He intends for us to use those gifts for His glory. As an artsy gal, I’m most comfortable building graphics for our church’s power point slides, event banners, and social media posts—that’s one of my favorite ways to volunteer. I also love organizing and leading events for our Ladies’ Ministry and working with our middle and high school girls. Those things fit snuggly into my comfortable wheelhouse. Teaching a classroom full of little ones with more pent-up energy than a shaken can of Red Bull just isn’t within my comfort zone.

BUT—and as one of my favorite preachers and mentors likes to say, it’s a BIG BUT….

Through Bible study, my heart was convicted as I considered the fact that nearly every giant of faith that we read about in Scripture wasn’t naturally equipped with extraordinary talent to accept the tasks God put forth for them to navigate. Truly, it was usually quite the opposite, and each time it was God who did the heavy lifting and claimed the victory.

He parted the seas for Moses. He tore down walls for Joshua. He won the battle for Gideon. He changed the world with a ragtag gang of fishermen. He broke down barriers with Paul.

What gave these giants of faith the great stories we still love reading about is that, despite their flaws and weaknesses, God still found remarkable ways to use them. And I’m convinced that this is how He continues to operate providentially today every time we offer up a reluctant “yes” to a call to serve. God so obviously deserves all the praise when He works through me when I’m miles from my comfort zone, because His power, goodness, and faithfulness are made all the more evident in my weaknesses, too (2 Corinthians 12:9).

So as you can probably guess, I decided to give teaching another try, and I’m admittedly floundering quite a bit each week. But you know what? I’m not drowning, and the kids keep coming back. We’re learning a lot about one another, laughing a lot about my drawings in my goofy white board Bible story scenes, and figuring out how read prayer requests with doodles rather than words.

Will this opportunity to serve ever find itself squarely within my comfort zone?

Eh, who knows? Probably not, but it does seem like it’s getting a smidge easier each time.

Will little seeds for the Kingdom be planted in little hearts for someone else to water in the future?

You know, maybe so.

Will my faith be made stronger through this experience?

I sincerely think so. And if the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to little children, maybe this is exactly where I need to be, soaking up their innocence, and experiencing humility, confident that any good being done is due to God alone.

To Him be the glory, and may His power be made all the more evident through my weaknesses.

Melissa Flanagan  |  Huntsville, Alabama