Why It's So Hard to Quit Kids Ministry (And What It Might Mean)

How to Know If God Is Growing You and Calling You to Keep Going

I heard a statement years ago at a kids ministry conference that never has left me:

“If you’re having a hard time quitting... it’s because you’re not supposed to.”

Some words just settle deep in your spirit. They stay with you.

That was one of them.

Maybe because, if I’m being really honest, I wanted to quit more times than I can count.

Not because I didn’t feel called.
Not because I didn’t love it.

But because the very thing I felt called to do, was the very thing I struggled with the most.

I knew kids ministry was where I was supposed to be.
But how was I supposed to minister when speaking in front of the kids was so hard?

Called Doesn’t Mean Ready

Somewhere along the way, we start believing that if God calls us, we should automatically feel confident and know how to carry out the assignment.

But it doesn’t always work that way.

Being called doesn’t mean you’re prepared.
It just means you’re positioned.

Think about it:

• Gideon said his clan was the weakest and he was the least in his father’s house but the Angel of the Lord called him a mighty man of valor. (Judges 6)

• Esther said she wasn’t supposed to go to the king without first being summoned but her uncle replied, “…who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4)

• Moses told God he wasn’t good with words and never had been. He would get tongue-tied and his words tangled. (Exodus 4 NLT)

Boy, did I ever resonate with that last one! 😅

God didn’t choose them because they were ready.
He chose them because He had a plan.

And just like He had a plan for them, He has a plan for you.

The Moment I Almost Threw in the Towel

There was a time that I hit a breaking point.

We had taken about 50–60 kids to camp and I was asked to speak to a small group of girls at one of the morning devotions.

I had my notes and thought I was ready. Until I looked around at the 20+ girls and their counselors. And not one familiar face in the room.

I froze. My mind went blank.

I stumbled over my words as I tried glancing over at my notes. Desperately trying to make sense.

One of the counselors said sweetly, “It’s okay if you want to read your notes.”

And read them I did! Word for word! And a 3x5 index card does not hold that many.

Five minutes into it (if it was even that long) and I was done.

“I’m Done.”

By the time I got back to my cabin, I was bawling my eyes out.

I was mad. I was embarrassed. And I was d-o-n-e… done.

I told God (yelling was more like it), “That’s it! I’m finished! I’m going home! There’s no way You called me to this!”

Then I calmed down. I knew I wasn’t going to quit.

Because…

“If you’re having a hard time quitting... it’s because you’re not supposed to.”

The Turnaround

I cleaned up my face and changed my clothes (so I wouldn’t be recognized).

Because clearly (at least in my mind), this group of 6-12 year old little girls... hungry and ready for a swim... were traumatized from my bombed devotional. 😄

Ridiculous, I know. But real at the time.

Regardless, I did take the long way around to go check in on our group of girls.

One of our counselors was about to do their room devotional so I asked if there was anything she needed.

“Can you do the devotional for me?”

Without hesitation, I said yes. Then immediately thought,
“Way to go, Peg… let’s go screw up another one.”

I sat on the edge of the bed as all the girls climbed on their bunks to listen.

I read the first question from the camp devotional and everything I had studied and prepared to speak to the other group of girls came flowing out.

With ease.

I finished up, prayed and sent them off to lunch.

And just sat there for a minute. Thanking God.

Because I knew...

I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

How to Know If God Is Growing You and Calling You to Keep Going

Here’s a filter I’ve learned to look through:

If the obstacle wasn’t standing in my way… would I still want to do it?

For me, everything about kids ministry was fulfilling except for one thing:

Speaking effectively in front of the kids… which is kind of a big deal. 😅

So instead of walking away, I started doing two things:

👉🏼 Finding promises in God’s Word that covered what I struggled with

👉🏼 Speaking those promises over my life

That day at camp, I experienced a breakthrough. I caught a glimpse of what God could do through me if I kept believing His Word.

It wasn’t instant, smooth sailing from then on out.

But I did realize something:

The desire God placed in my heart was greater than the struggle trying to make me quit.

So let me ask you:

If the obstacle wasn’t standing in your way… would you still want to do it?

If the answer is yes:

👉🏼 Identify the obstacle

👉🏼 Find God’s promises that speak to it

👉🏼 And go after that thing ⚔️

Keep Going

It may not always feel easy.

There may be will be moments where you question everything.

Difficulty doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place.

Sometimes it means you’re growing into what God already placed inside of you.

I know this because pressing through those difficult times prepared and set me up for what God had for me down the road.

Did you catch that???

Pressing through those difficult times will prepare and set you up for what God has for you down the road.

The resistance you’re having might not be a sign to stop.

It might be a sign to keep going.

You can do this.
You’re not alone.
What you’re doing matters more than you know.

A Simple Next Step

If part of what seems hard is figuring out how to actually teach in a way that connects with your kids, I created something simple to help.

It’s a free guide to help you create your own object lessons for kids ministry so you don’t feel stuck or overwhelmed when it’s time to teach.

👉🏼 Download the FREE "Create Your Own Object Lessons" guide here