As a woman, it can be easy to compare ourselves to other gals. We want the job our friend has or the fun personality of our co-worker. It is challenging to not want what others have. In our culture, comparison is rampant because of constantly viewing people’s highlight reels in life and online. This messy part of life can also quickly slip into ministry. It is easy to compare ourselves to the woman leading the large women’s ministry and has the dream position we desire. The foundational desire to serve the Lord well and disciple women is not wrong. In fact, it is a very good thing. However, this can become out of hand when we feel as if our role is not as magnificent as someone else’s.
Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Applying the Great Commission to our lives is simple in that it is about our relationship with the Lord and with others. If you are a women’s minister at a large church, stay faithful and serve the Lord even while navigating challenges of reaching many women in all different seasons of life. If you are the woman discipling only one woman, the same is true for you. Stay faithful to what the Lord has called you to. It may feel as if having less women to minister to is not as significant, but it is not the size of the ministry that matters. What matters is being obedient with discipling the ones God has given us.
Years ago, I was involved in a church group with six other ladies, and our leader, Cayla, would have us over to her house each Sunday evening. One week, though, I was the only one who showed up to our group. It would have been so easy for her to have canceled our time together, but she saw just me as being reason enough to continue with discipleship that evening. As I am now called to disciple women, I think about how that night made me know how important I was to her even if no one else showed up. To Cayla, it didn’t matter that no one else came. What mattered was that she served the Lord. Even if it only made a difference in one person’s life, it was enough.
I share that story to remind and encourage you that ministry is about being faithful to helping those around us find and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Even if one person came to know Jesus through you, it would be worth it. Who was that person in your life that took the time with you to set an example of what it means to follow Jesus? If that person had not taken that time or had viewed you as just one of many in a sea of people, how would your relationship with Jesus look different today?
