Trustless in God & Filling in the Gaps of Faith

 Trustless in God
The Lord says, 'I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me" (Isaiah 65:1)
 I don't ask for God's help very often. I remember in High School, my Youth Pastor dared me to ask God to "give me an opportunity to share the gospel today" and said I would be surprised by the results. I was. It happened. I had opportunities to talk about God. I bring this up, because I don't think I ask a lot for God's help now. Not when I'm on my own and I "got it all covered." I prepare parent meetings and youth events without a second thought or care or prayer in the world.

I wonder if God's waiting for me to rely on Him more. To actually trust Him. Is God there for me? ready to respond and ready to be found (Isa 65:1), but have I not been looking for Him?

A friend of mine once told me, to find out how much you have faith in God, just ask yourself what do you actually trust Him with? What do I actually trust solely and only God with to accomplish in my life right now? Honestly, I don't think even a mustard seed's worth. Everything in my life can be done by "my own power."

Lord, I pray that I would surrender more trust to you. To put my plans more often in your hands. To love and care for people like you do. Help me to trust you more with my marriage, with my home, with my job, and with my friends. Help me to trust you more with my feelings, with my failures, with my successes and with my questions. Help me. God help me come to you more often with trust in you in everything I do.




Filling in the Gaps of Faith

 "Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith" (1 Thess 3:10)
This verse in where Paul talks about is overflowing love for the church in thessolonica reminds me of two important truths:
1. I am called to "fill in the gaps" of the youth's faith, NOT give them their faith - only God can cause faith to grow and spiritual awakening to happen. It's not my job to save these youth. That's Christ's job. My job is to fill in the gaps. To make up for what is lacking. My job, as a youth minister is not to make sure everyone is saved. It is not to make sure every student has a steak plate full of faith. My job is to support what faith they have. To equip the saints for the work of ministry. To help support them, not be their life support. If the youth are relying on the youth pastor for their faith it will quickly die at graduation. My job is to supplement what they already have with God personally.
2. I am called to "fill in the gaps" of the youth's faith - which means, I need to figure out where they need to grow! What do they need to hear? What gaps exist in their trust in Jesus Christ? What topics need to be addressed? What sin is forming a growing and gaping hole in their heart for God? Where is their faith lacking?

For me, I feel like i've started to do a good job on focusing on the FAITH of the youth. But now, I feel I need to focus my teaching, especially in the High School Ministry, on focusing on the faith of the YOUTH. Where do THEY need help? What truths have been blocked out but teachings of the world that go against the Bible?

Am I filling in the gaps?