Are You Trusting God to Lead You In Ministry?

“SEE ROCK CITY!”

Have you ever seen a billboard with those words written in big white letters across the top? Have you ever wondered, “What the heck is a rock city, and why do I need to see it?”

When I was a little girl, my grandparents took my sister and me to Chattanooga, Tennessee to “See Rock City.” I cannot even begin to describe how incredible it is. The sights are absolutely gorgeous. You can stand at the top of Lover’s Leap and look out over seven states. Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village are rock caves decorated with the most detailed sculptures and scenes depicting everyone’s favorite fairy tales, and they glow the brightest neon colors under black lights.

The walking trails are gorgeous. The 140-foot waterfall is stunning. There are fun places to eat, and I even remember Mother Goose herself walking around with a talking goose. Some might say she’s creepy, but I say she’s a little girl’s dream come true. All of this makes for a wonderful place to visit, but I really want to tell you about my two favorite parts of Rock City.

In one area, there are two rock formations that come together to form the skinniest of paths to walk through called “Fat Man Squeeze.” My grandpa was not anywhere close to skinny. My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed shimmying our way through the narrow path and then positioning ourselves to watch his failed attempt to squeeze through.

I am laughing out loud right now just thinking about it. Isn’t that horrible?

I also want to tell you about the Swing-Along Bridge. If you have ever had the opportunity to visit Rock City, you know exactly what I am talking about. The Swing-Along Bridge is a 180-foot wooden pedestrian bridge suspended high over the Chattanooga Valley.

It. Is. Terrifying.

Honest to goodness, I have butterflies in my stomach right this second remembering how it felt as we shakily walked across that old wooden swinging bridge. Of course, what’s a swinging wooden bridge suspended in mid-air without some punk kids who thought it would be a blast to race across, making it shake? I feared for my life and thought for sure I wouldn’t see my next birthday.

Somehow we made it safely across, and I am pretty positive a medal should be awarded to anyone who does.

What does all this have to do with God, you’re wondering? After many years, I have realized there is a lesson to be learned from the Swing-Along Bridge.

My husband is a family pastor, so sometimes I tell people we are in the ministry. However, as a follower of Christ, I firmly believe we are all “in the ministry.” When we love others, serve, volunteer, carry burdens, minister, disciple, or anything else thought of as ministry, we make the choice to walk across a similar swaying bridge.

[Tweet “If we step outside the will of God, we can find ourselves quickly falling into a valley.”] A valley of stress, anxiety, or even depression.

Although we are called to minister to others, if we begin taking on more than God calls us to, we move to a very dangerous place on the bridge. I’m going to be really honest and tell you how much I struggle with leaning over the swinging bridge. I’m going to be even more honest and tell you that sometimes I take on so much “ministering” that I am left hanging from the bridge by the neck of my I Can Save the World t-shirt.

I am good at falsely believing I can do it all. Minister to all. Carry it all.

I am slowly and surely beginning to recognize when God calls me to minister and when He tells me to slow my role. As long as I am ministering according to His calling and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, then I am safe on the bridge (even though the bridge is scary). When I begin making my own choices about when to “minister,” I quickly become so overwhelmed that I end up wanting to quit everything.

When I rest in His presence and am obedient to His calling, I am confident God will guide me as I love, serve, volunteer, disciple, and minister. I am also confident He will never be the punk kid running across the bridge in an effort to freak me out or knock me over the rail.

Holy Spirit, as we faithfully yet shakily make our way across the swinging bridge of life, may we press in as closely as possible so that we are in tune with how you would have us minister along the way. God, may we remember that without You, our “ministering” is meaningless. Our effectiveness in ministry comes from You alone. Go before us, Lord, and may the successfulness of our ministry bring glory to Your name!

Rachel Van Hook was born and raised in the Casey Jones capital city of Jackson, Tennessee. She’s mom to three girly girls, married to her church camp sweetie, and passionate about . . . well, according to her husband, she’s just passionate! Rachel blogs at racheljvanhook.com.