All In
I’m in one of those seasons of life that makes me question a lot. I’m questioning my motivations and passions and work habits. The future seems like a mass of unknowns and the past seems like a patchwork of disconnected experiences. Despite being 29 years old, I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
It’s so easy for me to try to look past this moment of chaos to a time when I’ll have a chance to actually serve God. Where I am now just seems too complicated. Too chaotic. Too fraught with unknowns. So, obviously, I have to wait for things to settle down.
Maybe you can identify with that. You’re in the midst of high school, trying to make plans for what’s next. Or you’re fighting your way through a tough statistics class in college and still trying to balance a social life. Or maybe you’re beyond high school and college, building new relationships out in the “real world.” Wherever it might be, it just doesn’t seem like there’s time or space for you to be in ministry.
As I’m working through this season, myself, I’ve read many of Paul’s letters. As I read his words to Timothy or Titus or the churches, it would be easy for me to shrug off his words to Timothy. I can just decide that the messages aren’t relevant to me today. But that is far from the truth.
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
It’s easy to get caught up in the details of Paul’s words like “prophecy spoken over you” or “your teaching.” But I think there are a couple of relevant, overarching messages we can glean from his letter to Timothy.
You have received a gift.
Y’all - this is truth. God created you with a purpose in mind. As you’re bumbling around life trying to decide what you want to be when you grow up or how to find the probability of X equaling Z, it might be hard to know exactly what that is. Or maybe you’re confident in how you’ve been gifted, but you’re unsure what that looks like in the grand scheme of things. That’s okay. Either way, I have two suggestions for you:
Ask your community - the people who have been “doing life” around you might help you figure out how you’re gifted and/or how to use your gifts. Go to trusted mentors or leaders for advice. If they don’t have any immediate insight, ask them to pray with you as you try to figure it out.
Practice - once you’ve figured out how God has gifted you, look for opportunities to use those gifts. Be open to trying new things in new places with new people. The world is constantly changing, meaning that there are always new ways to put your gifts into practice.
Go all in.
When it comes to your faith, commit to it. Commit to living it, expressing it, and claiming it. If you’re doing life (going to school, working, exploring hobbies) with people who don’t share your faith, it’s easy to just let that slide under the radar. It’s something you do in the safety of your bedroom and on Sunday mornings. You might think to yourself, “People will just know that I’m different.” But your faith should be more.
It’s something you should be willing to claim when the jokes turn a little sour. Or it’s the reason that you give for walking away from a conversation that’s unkind. It’s your motivation for the work that you do, pursuing God’s calling on your life.
This is so much easier said than done. As I put these words down, I am convicted of ways I’ve failed to do this. I’ve let conversations slide because it was easier than claiming to be a Christian. I’ve avoided explicit explanations for the work that I’ve done and continue to do in ministry. And I’ve even listened to people tear down religion as an institution.
If I’m all in with my faith, if I choose to stay true to what is right, then I’ve got to throw myself into my faith! (Philippians 4:8) There is no shame in claiming Christ.
When life doesn’t seem to have a straight path or you’re bumbling down high school hallways or trying to decide how to spend a weekend on a college campus, it’s easy to side-line your faith. It’s easy to just “wait” for the right time to act like a Christian. But the time is now. Your life—beyond just being a good person—can serve as a ministry now.
Take some time to think seriously about the following questions. If your answers are “no,” think about what might need to change. Spend some time praying and seeking God through His word and figure out what it would take for you to be all in.
Have you thrown yourself into living a life that reflects Christ? Are you giving your complete attention to the pursuit and reflection of God? And are you staying true to what is right - for your sake and the sake of others?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Elizabeth spent the past six years doing life in Nashville, TN…from grad school to working in a pie shop to running after school programs. But then she got a little antsy. She’s currently in a season of “wandering”…exploring the people, tastes and experiences that the country has to offer. As she set out on this journey her hope was to engage with people in more authentic ways and to hike everything possible. If you're curious about where she is and what she's up to, visit sunsetsstormclouds.home.blog.