I minister to high school and college students. Two of the most asked questions that come up are about planning for the future. Students want to know: How do I know where God is leading me in my life (college, major, future career path)? How do I know God’s will for my life?
Our students face these pivotal questions daily. They often feel unprepared to balance the tension of planning and holding plans loosely. We need to be equipped to encourage our students to trust God’s plans for their lives. We do this by modeling surrender and trust as we lay down our desires for our ministry and our lives.
Trusting God With Our Plans
A few years into serving in youth ministry, the Lord taught me to surrender specific plans I made for mentoring high school girls at my church. The thought struck me: One-on-one mentoring would be a great way to invest in these girls in this season. I had invested in a group of high school girls for several years as their small group leader. I felt called by the Lord to encourage and shepherd them individually. After seeking counsel from our church’s youth pastor and praying about it, I reached out to the girls I was interested in mentoring. Some ignored my request. Others replied that they were too busy that semester to meet. Two agreed, but we only gathered once before the “too busy” texts flooded my phone. I was disappointed. It felt like my attempts to minister and care for my students failed.
A few months later, the Lord put three specific girls on my heart to form a small discipleship group. After weeks of prayer and wise counsel, I approached these girls and explained my vision for the group. They all agreed to try it out. That discipleship group ended up being so fruitful. The girls still share with me the ways it impacted them spiritually. It was such a joy to walk alongside these girls and witness God’s work in their lives that year, even when God’s plan for my ministry looked far different than I had planned.
Watching Him Work
Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Let’s remind our students that the Lord has already prepared specific purposes for their lives and that he has prepared for them to do good works (Eph. 2:10). Encourage them to keep pursuing the Lord in his Word and prayer as they seek the Lord’s guidance in their lives. Ask God to provide your students with wisdom and discernment when preparing to lead a student-run club or ministry, making a commitment to a specific college, or deciding on a college major.
Our students need us to walk alongside them and remind them of God’s sovereign plan. They need us to remind them of how he’s working all things together for our good and his glory (Rom. 8:28). We must remember to teach our students that surrendering plans means laying down our desires about all aspects of life (career, marriage, family, etc.) before the Lord, knowing that he cares for them.
God’s plans for our students might look different from their plans, but we rest in his sovereignty, faithfulness, and provision for their lives (and ours!).
Trusting God When Plans Fall Apart
When life and ministry don’t go the way you planned or expected, how do you respond? Do you wallow in disappointment as I sometimes do? Are you easily frustrated by results? Do you struggle to grasp why this ministry initiative or program failed? Or does processing those emotions lead to a desire to move forward in faith, trusting in God’s sovereignty and faithfulness?
Maybe you’ve faced faithful students who suddenly choose the popular youth group over yours. Maybe you have tried discipling students who ended up not desiring your investment. Maybe you’re discouraged by the lack of students serving in your church. Maybe you lack a team of college and adult leaders with the gifting needed to run the ministry you’ve envisioned.
God sees the struggles we’re walking through in ministry. He cares deeply about us and our students. Ask him to provide the faith necessary to endure the trials and hardships in ministry. We may not fully understand his ways, but God is sovereign and faithful. He will fulfill his promises.
Trusting the Lord in all areas of my ministry has been challenging at times. The Lord continues to deepen my trust and dependence on him. Trusting him when he says “no” to my plans has become more about my heart posture of obedience and faithfulness than the once-paralyzing disappointment.
His Purposes Will Stand
I love what Proverbs 19:21 says regarding God’s purpose: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
He desires that our hearts align with his (Ps. 37:4), and we can rest in his sovereignty and perfect plans for us. His plans and purposes will be accomplished. Keep trusting God and surrendering your desires for your ministry to him. Keep teaching your students to surrender their future plans and rest in God’s sovereign plan for their lives. Cling to the truth that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6).
Just as God was faithful to the Israelites in their oppression and in the wilderness, he provided a way of redemption and salvation through Jesus. That was his plan all along. Now, he uses imperfect youth leaders like us to care for the next generation.
Let’s point our students to Jesus and trust that he has good plans for their lives. Let’s believe in faith that he also has a good plan for our lives and ministry.
Looking for more support with challenges you face in youth or family ministry? Consider applying for one of Rooted’s mentorship cohorts!
