Christian Living

Answering the call to serve Part 1

by Janice S Ramkissoon 
03/25/22
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On the 21st March 2022, I re-watched the sermon, 'The Loving Discipline of God' by Stephen Kendrick. Watching it the second time, I felt compelled to start serving in a local church again. I am recovering from burnout and I am still afraid to start volunteering again as I found that there is no structure that helps to protect volunteers from burn-out and/or damage to the family network.

However, I love the Lord with all my heart and I want to serve as an expression of my love for Him. In doing so, I also want to be at peace no matter what the circumstances are.

I then began thinking about the fact that I was not taught how to be a mother or a wife. I hadn’t a model to pattern, since my parents were not together (they were never a couple). Then realising that although mother and father relinquished their responsibilities in caring for me, the Lord Himself, by His Word and His Spirit, has been teaching me. As I read through Psalm 119, I was reminded of that truth, through verses 27, 29 and 32. Psalm 27:10 also clearly stated that there is a place for me in the house of the Lord.

Being raised / cared for in my grandparents home, I learned how to navigate the seasons I've lived through as a wife and a mother over the past 22 years. That recognition (now having knowledge of Psalm 27:10 and having experienced His love this way) found me singing, with new understanding, the song, ‘You raised me up’:

“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up, to more than I can be”

Singing that song again, with understanding, I had a taste of what I have been missing: ‘Being ministered to through songs’ and suddenly I felt the spirit of fear come over me, again.

Nevertheless, I am holding onto the promises of God; knowing that I have been given the Spirit of Love, power and a sound mind (self-control) as we are told in 2 Tim 1:7. I have been walking with Christ long enough to say, with confidence, that He will never leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13:5); that when I go through deep waters He will be with me, I will not drown; when I go through fire, I will not be burned, according to Isaiah 43:2.

Then I prayed:

“Lord, I know I need to respond to the call to serve but Lord, I need your courage to do what is right.”

At that point, I felt a strong desire to contact my church’s worship leader and answer the call to serve. It will take courage, please pray for me.

Continues in part 2>>> Answering the call to serve 2