I am an ISFJ Christian
For the most part of my Christian journey, I have been on the sidelines.
Like a wallflower, you might never even know I was there or my name. I just enjoyed blending in the background.
So when I was called to become a small group leader after the previous leaders left to stay in another country, I resisted. I felt inadequate and worried that I would not be able to perform well in this role.
But God has other plans, and I would like to share a few learnings or mindset shifts I had to experience before answering God’s call.
You will never feel ready enough
Like marriage or parenthood, you will never feel that you are ready.
I asked my previous leader why he chose me to take over. He said he had prayed about it and felt I would be faithful in carrying out this role.
To help with the resistance I was facing. My husband asked me what was the worst that could happen? Indeed, if I took up the challenge, we could continue on with the small group we had grown so accustomed to for the past 3 years.
The worst scenario would be that we close the small group and go our separate ways.
By God’s grace, my small group has continued for the past seven years, and I have handed on the leadership to another brother who has stepped up. Amen!
Be faithful – Keep meeting together
One fear I had before every small group meeting was that no one would show up.
I had discussed with my husband on the minimum number of people we had to have to continue a meeting, and we landed on 3.
Miraculously, in the 5 years I was cell leader. We never had to cancel a meeting!!! God, in his faithfulness, had kept the group going and growing.
‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt? ‘ Matthew 14:32
Pray, pray and pray
One good habit my husband and I developed before each cell group meeting was to pray for our members and for the meeting to go smoothly. We prayed for:
- Open hearts and minds for every attending.
- For the person leading that week, that God would speak to them and we would be encouraged by His word and by each other’s sharing.
- God’s presence to be with us for when “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” Matthew 18:20.
God will use you
Don’t be afraid, be obedient to God’s calling and he will meet where you are.
Jesus showed himself to doubting Thomas because he knew that was what Thomas needed to believe.
“But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25.
Nowadays, I still feel scared to heed God’s calling, but take heart that God will give you what you need to do his work. Like how he gave Moses what to say when he met Pharaoh.
10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:10-11.
Indeed, God will equip us to do his will!
