Drink coffee. 
Reply to emails. 
Shop the dollar store for fun crafts. 
Drink more coffee. 
Text encouragement to volunteers. 
Write birthday cards for kids. 
Buy prizes for the class store. 
Sit in a meeting and drink more coffee. 

There is always a running list of things to do in Kids Ministry. It seems no matter how many things you check off your list one day, ten new items appear on the list before your head even hits the pillow. Then for all of those late night ideas, you have a pen and paper next to your bed... just in case. 

I’m tired just reading the list. How many times have you been asked to take on a special project, attend one more meeting, or make that phone call to a parent that needs extra time. When you are asked you might think, but Lord- I’m already tired. 

If any of this relates to you, you are not alone. I have felt that way many times. Let me share what I believe the Lord wants for you and I in those moments and always. Rest. And I’m not just talking about the kind of rest you get with a post church nap on the couch that leaves drool on the side of your face kind of rest. He wants to give us a real rest. The Bible says, “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest,” (Matthew 11:28).

Here’s the good news- all of those to do lists and tasks will get done. Do you know how I know?! Because the Lord is faithful. He has done it before and He will do it again. 

I believe you are on a very special assignment. Teaching kids and training the next generation to follow after Jesus is no small deal in the eyes of the Lord. You are absolutely crucial and valuable to Him and to the kingdom. You are seen. You are loved. You are treasured. Sometimes it is easier to tell the kids all of those things than it is to believe it ourselves. Well believe it! You matter. Your rest matters. Your peace matters. Your joy matters. It matters to the Lord. 

You could check off all the lists in the world but do you know what? It’s not going to make the Lord love you more. He loves you just for who you are; not the things you can do, the amazing VBS props you paint, the creative family night you pull off, the number of new kids that come to your Sunday School, or how many volunteers you have scheduled on Planning Center. He loves you for you. 

Let’s look at what Lamentations 3:22 says. 
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

His love for you is faithful. It will always be there guiding you, helping you and bringing you peace. It’s in His love that we can truly rest. 

So friends, my encouragement to you is this: rest in knowing how much the Lord loves you. Watch what His goodness and faithfulness can do in the middle of your moments. In the middle of your busy day, He’s there. In the middle of your lists, He’s there. In the middle of a packed Sunday, He’s there. In the middle of it all, He is there. 

If you are already tired and can’t seem to do one more thing, that’s ok. Just rest. He is faithful to come alongside you 

A favorite hymn of mine is, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” I encourage you to read these words and hear them with your heart. 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

​Kids Ministry friends, the Lord is faithful. His love for you is never ending. Let’s rest in that truth today. 

Alicia Weiers is a wife, homeschool mom, author, teacher, and kids ministry consultant. She has taught or trained countless numbers of kids and volunteers over the last two decades. Alicia, along with her husband Kevin and two daughters are the creators of iTeachChurch. They make Jesus fun with their creative curriculum.