A TIME TO SERVE: Seasons of Ministry for the Everyday Disciple

Beka Burch

Have you ever thought that the current season of ministry you’re in may not be as “profitable” for the Kingdom as the past season that you had been in before? Or maybe you’re nervous at the thought of what season of ministry lies ahead? Often times we are tripped up by the thought of “seasons” in our lives, when God wants to use these different seasons of ministry for His glory!

Over the last 6 months of my life, I have heard the tender, sweet whisper of God calling me to a new personal season of ministry. And through this beckoning, He has brought comfort and joy in my mind and spirit, knowing that what where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going in ministry are all important parts of my story.

I truly believe that God calls each one of us to leave a lasting impact, as He has left on us. Throughout years of our lives, God graces us with different seasons of service, whether it be mission trips, teaching Sunday School, serving our neighbors, supporting our spouses, or discipling our kids. I pray that today you will be encouraged through scripture that we are called to remember the blessings from our past ministries, be content in our current role of ministry, and look forward to the ministry He will set before us.

God brings us through every season with the intention of showing His heart through us.

1. REFLECT ON THE SEASONS OF MINISTRY YOU’VE COME OUT OF

Throughout the Bible, we see countless examples of remembering, reflecting, and recalling the goodness of God. One of the greatest examples of this is in Joshua 4:1-9. After the Israelites pass over the Jordan river the Lord instructed Joshua to set up twelve stones of remembrance for the future generations to know that God had been their help. And just as Joshua erected these remembrance stones, we too are called to look back on the things God has done for us in grateful remembrance. There are countless things He has done in and through us that I pray we would remember!

As I remember all of the seasons of ministry I have been a part of, I can choose one of two paths: I can be thankful and ask the Lord to recall to my mind all that He taught me in those seasons OR I can be overwhelmed with despair wishing I was still in those seasons. If I choose to repeatedly dwell on “what was”, I will never be able to intentionally live for “what is now”. So, REMEMBER AND RECALL in a deep and holy reverence what God has shown you in the past seasons. Ask God what it is specifically he taught you there and thank Him for it!

Every season we go through IS a season of ministry, but it’s up to us to see our seasons through a heavenly perspective.

I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the instilling of love to sing in kids choir, the heart he gave me for people through my mission travels in high school and college, the burden he instilled in me for youth ministry while working in the school system, and the urgency he placed within me for the unfathered and abused while I ran my business fighting human trafficking. These are all wonderful parts of my story where God used me, taught me, and grew me in Him and my service to His Kingdom.

2. RECOGNIZE THE SEASON OF MINISTRY YOU’RE IN

One of the greatest people that we can learn from comes to mind as I focus on this portion of our topic – THE APOSTLE PAUL! In the middle of a filthy prison cell, near the end of his death, we see Paul write a passion-filled letter to Timothy, his son in the faith. Paul penned this beautiful letter in urgency knowing that his time on earth was short. He understood the season of ministry that he was in – one near death. And it drove Him to write with an urgency that impacted Timothy, the early church, and every Christian to this day.

So, I encourage you to ask yourself this question – what current season of ministry are you in? It is important for us to recognize what season we are in so that we can know how to live each day intentionally for the Kingdom of God! Are you in the ministry of motherhood? I pray that you would understand the sense of urgency in training and discipling your children for the gospel in the midst of a secular world. Are you in the ministry of teaching Sunday School? I urge you to remember the importance of the minds and hearts God has given you to help teach and mold.

Moses instructs us in Psalm 90 to “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Paul, Moses, and so many other godly men that we look towards recognized the current season of ministry they were in and that caused them to live focused on the current task! They lived each day requesting wisdom from God to know how to currently live for His glory. So, where are you currently? Are you in a season that feels meaningless? Maybe you feel like your nursery rotation doesn’t matter. Maybe you feel like no one sees you constantly changing the lyrics in the sound booth. Maybe you’re in what you think is a great season of ministry, but you feel overwhelmed at the task. Maybe you’re trying to figure out what this season actually even is. Ask God to help you recognize where He has currently placed you and how to use you effectively for His kingdom!

3. RECIEVE THE SEASONS OF MINISTRY AHEAD

Did you know that there are beautiful seasons of ministry ahead, if you continue to allow God rule and reign in your life?! God has great plans for His children, as we yield our lives, wills, and resources over to Him! As we look forward, we can ask God to help us identify what tasks he might have for us ahead. This will force us to ask how, by God’s grace, we want to live TODAY in order to live fully in the next season.

If you are currently in a season of doing something “small” and wanting something “more”, ask God these questions – 1) How am I allowing You to help me grow in this current season so I can be prepared for the next? Am I content here while you prepare me? 2) When I get to the next season, how do you want me to help those who were where I was?

If you are looking ahead and are nervous, scared, or unsure of what is ahead, I also want to encourage you. We can look ahead and begin asking the Lord for the grace and strength we will need in our future seasons. Personally, as I look forward to a season of staying at home and homeschooling my children, I am already beginning to ask the Lord for the grace, wisdom, and strength I will need to endure long days of “mundane” tasks. I am asking Him to give me fresh perspective while washing dishes, folding laundry, and teaching to read. These may not be “glamorous ministry tasks” in many peoples’ eyes, but they are beautiful to Him! These will be my acts of worship to Him and my call to take care of my home and disciple my children.

So, in all 3 seasons of ministry (reflecting on the past, recognizing the present, and receiving what is ahead), we must rely on the grace of God! Because in every season, Satan is going to try and sabotage what God is doing, make you feel inadequate, and therefore, make you inactive.

PLEASE REMEMBER – EVERY SEASON IS A SEASON OF MINISTRY! But we have to see it that way.

Ask God to give you a fresh perspective today (with past ministries, with your current ministry, and with what you know is ahead)… He will do more than you could ever imagine if you give it all to Him.