I have been impacted by so many faithful servants of Jesus. I grew up in a small church in Kansas where everyone felt like family and as a child I felt constantly cared for in my church. It often had to do with food. I’ll never forget Maxine’s homemade bread, Darlene’s coffee cake, and Charlene’s cinnamon rolls. It wasn’t always the deep theological discussions that were the most impactful (although important), but it was experiencing their love and joy in serving Jesus. It was evident that the love of Jesus overflowed from them, spurring them on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
When I think about serving in the church, my first thoughts are: I don’t want to give up my time, I’m not equipped, I don’t have the energy/capacity, I doubt I would be helpful, etc. I assume that a lot of people have these thoughts, but these are lies. There are so many reasons and ways we can talk ourselves out of serving, but the truth is that serving has absolutely nothing to do with us and our schedules or our abilities even, but truly about recognizing the grace and provision of Christ in our lives. That is such a comfort to me as some weeks I am weary, unmotivated, and anxious. Jesus will provide the strength, diligence, and love we need to serve.
After we trust in God’s sovereignty and provision, some practical things to consider are how serving truly benefits our lives. Serving with the strength of the Holy Spirit is incredibly empowering as we humbly offer ourselves to be used by God to fulfill His purpose for our lives and the lives of others. We get to experience the outflow of His provision through us. It is a supernatural feeling for me when I walk into church praying that the Lord will provide the strength that feels absent from my body, but then leave the church encouraged and rejuvenated after a time serving in my son’s class, meeting new people and getting them connected, or coordinating our small group. It’s not always easy, but there is still joy in serving the Lord.
There have been times in my life when I have been the one needing to be served--times of loss, certain semesters of grad school, and when my kids were newborns. There was abundant grace given to me in those times and when they subsided I was reminded how encouraged I was to be served and loved when needed. If you have been feeling any nudges from the Holy Spirit regarding serving others, step out in faith and rely on the grace of Jesus to carry and use you.
May we never forget, but faithfully follow the example Jesus set, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) There really is joy in serving.
We were created and called to serve. It is an outpouring of the grace that has been freely given to us.
Meet the Author!
Kayla is the wife of Council Road’s Young Adult Pastor, Landry Franks, and mother to Asher and Dru. She works as a therapist in Oklahoma City, providing trauma services for children, adolescents, and families. She enjoys time with her family, meaningful conversation, cold weather, running, and a good board game.