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The Right Time

It’s no secret that I love children. That’s why I became a teacher. That’s why I said yes when Pastor Chuck asked me to step in as KidMin Leader. That’s why I embrace every little that walks through my sister’s home as she fosters them. Children are our legacy. I believe in teaching and loving them well. 

These past four years as KidMin leader at Northside have not been wasted. God stretched me into a new area. He helped me navigate them through loss during Covid and the loss of our pastor. I can now look back and see that my time in Kids’ Ministry has been preparing me for the next thing.

I knew in 2021 that God would eventually move me out as KidMin leader. I didn’t know when. At the start of this year, I began to hear Holy Spirit telling me that this would be my last year as kids director at Northside. Still, I waited.

Today was my last sermon for the kids as their KidMin leader. A new leadership team has been developed, and they are going to carry on with the task of nurturing the little hearts that come through our doors. I am excited for this new chapter as I move forward into where God is calling me.

A few weeks ago, I was worried that maybe I had missed God’s message. It seemed that there were nothing but dead ends with trying to find someone to step in to the role I have worked in over the last four years. I distinctly remember crying and feeling like I had heard wrong. Maybe the desires of my heart weren’t after God’s heart. It was a rough few days as I came to terms with “His will no matter what, no matter when.” 

 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

I have known for two years that my assignment was temporary. When I have asked God to open doors for me through Unbroken and Undone, His answer was always clear. I had too many other things going on. I’ve had to spend some time intentionally offloading data so that my mind and heart and can press into where He is leading me. But it couldn’t happen right away.

God’s ways and timing are so much better than mine. He knew exactly how the transition would go. I have loved every moment of pouring into the little ones at Northside. I’d be foolish to say that I am finished working with children.  The future generation is at the very heart of our church, and I’m sure I’ll have opportunities to help the new leadership when needed.

So God moves me into the next part of my story. For now, I am resting in the fact that I am “in the right time.”


© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.

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