Front Row Seat

By Pastor Eric

This past summer our high school youth ministry went to Colorado to experience the high adventure of Noah’s Ark. Rock rappelling, white water rafting, and a primitive backpack into the mountains. During our 3-day, 4-night hike into the Winford mountains of Colorado, our team of 40 was divided into 3 separate trail groups. Each team had two guides from Noah’s Ark and all the food and gear they would need for the trip. We headed out on 3 different trails; our packs were pretty heavy going in but everyone did an amazing job!  

On the initial climb day we gained a couple thousand feet in elevation bringing us to about 12,500 feet. Right away I started feeling the effects of the elevation change. Although I have never had this issue before, my head started to pound and nausea set in. I pushed through the initial climb thinking my body would adjust as we went along–but that was not to be the case. 

For three days I dealt with the effects of the high elevation. It was so frustrating for me–the pastor, leader, in charge of devotions, student care, motivation–unable to do my job. I even had a moment with God during my morning prayers, “What are you trying to show me Jesus? Why have you taken me out of the game?” I read a familiar passage in scripture that morning as I did my devotions, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” 1Thess. 5:11. This passage quickly brought me to a prayer of repentance as God revealed to me the pride that was getting in the way of empowering and encouraging my other leaders to use their gifts. I was only thinking about the good I was called to do, what I was equipped to get accomplished and not thinking about the leaders around me. Pride can turn our good works upside-down, so subtly that sometimes we don’t even recognize it. God told me that morning that I was to sit this one out, be a good follower, be an encouragement to the other leaders, empower them to use the gifts they have been given, and allow God to be in charge this time. God then led me to Ephesians 4:11-12, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Brothers and sisters, my pride almost got in the way of what God was doing, who he had equipped for this time, and how he was going to use the other leaders. 

After submitting to this hard truth from God, I got a front row seat to his amazing plan for our time in the mountains. Those two leaders were so awesome! They stepped up right away handling the devotions and prayer times, they cared for the students (and me), they brought an amazing amount of energy and motivation to the team, and they were so wise in all their decisions. I honestly believe that if I hadn’t been sick during that trip, I would have never allowed them to be the awesome leaders that God had called them to be. I also believe that these two leaders walked away with new found confidence in who they are, God’s call on their lives, and a strengthened confidence in their ability to use the gifts God has given to them. I am so thankful for both of them and the way they led our team. It was a powerful time for all of us and a lesson I will never forget. 

How about you? Are there people in your life that you need to encourage, to empower, to help provide opportunities for them to use their God-given gifts? Are you getting in the way of that? I challenge you to look around and be intentional about building up those around you, to share in the front row seat of the amazing things God is doing through his people!  Honor and appreciate one another: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” 

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21