Fact: Young adults lead very busy lives! Between work, relationships, family, and hobbies there seems to be very little time to spare for young adults these days. And let’s be honest, those of us who are young adult ministry leaders don’t always just sit around waiting for the next phone call or appointment to pop up on our calendars. The reality of life today is that things are simply busy!
How can we as young adult ministry leaders bring a sense of calmness or peace to our lives in a culture that seems to value busy?
Here are 3 suggestions for pursuing balance in the midst of busyness:
- Don’t neglect the opportunity to be still.
It’s ironic to think that we may actually have to schedule time to be still, but there always seems to be something to eat up our time if we are not intentional. Some of the sweetest moments of a relationship with come when we take the time to be still and hear His voice, His hope, and His love for us.
A scripture that we recite but often struggle with is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Remind young adults (and yourself) about the value of resting our minds, our hearts, and our souls. This will allow God to show us more of who He is through His Word.
- Be intentional about connecting with young adults even when they are busy.
When young adults miss a small group meeting because of their schedule, send them a text or message telling them you’re thinking about them and praying for them. As a valued relationship in their lives, your speaking truth and love through small messages goes a long way.
As individuals come to my mind throughout the day, I try to take some time to pray for them and then will send them a message to let them know I was thinking of them. Even through they may not always show up at every one of your small group meetings, they’ll know that you care for them and want to see them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
- Sometime throughout the year, schedule a retreat.
You’ll need to plan this early and place it on your calendar since schedules fill up quickly. Take a weekend and get away as a group for a retreat. Oftentimes, we fill retreats up with activities, Bible studies, and late nights only to come back from the weekend exhausted. When we do that, I think we miss the point. A retreat is a needed escape from our phones, our jobs, and the noise of life.
Find a place that you can take your group to experience a calmness of life and some true periods of rest. Allow ample time for Bible study and some fun, but be intentional about giving individuals in your group time to take a walk along a trail, sit and have a needed conversation with a friend, or even take a nap (what’s that?).
We can’t deny that as young adult ministry leaders we compete for the time of young adults in our group. However, how we approach busyness in our own lives and our ability to model a healthy approach to our schedule goes a long way as we invest in the young adults in our lives.
Mark Whitt is the Collegiate and Young Adult Specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources. Before joining Lifeway, he spent many years on the campus of Murray State University as a campus minister. Connect with Mark on Twitter: @MarkWhitt70.