(and You’re Not Sure It’s Him)
People often tell me I’m a good listener. I take that as a compliment. But if that’s true—why do I often feel like I can’t hear God?
Maybe it’s because He doesn’t always shout. Maybe it’s because sometimes His voice sounds a lot like your own thoughts… or your pastor’s offhand comment.
The Prayer I Was Too Tired to Speak Aloud
When my kids were in grade school, I found myself praying for more. I loved being a mom, truly. But motherhood in those early years felt like living in Groundhog Day—every day repeating the last. Dishes, laundry, school pickup, repeat. Nothing ever felt “done.” And somewhere in the repetition, my sense of purpose started to blur.
I started praying, asking God for a higher calling. Something more. A purpose that outlives me.
An Offer I Never Expected
And then… my pastor asked if I wanted to be the youth ministry lead.
I laughed. Out loud. I’m not a teacher. I’d never worked with kids outside of my own. My kids were easy (or at least I had the final say). But other people’s kids? That was another story. I politely declined.
He smiled and said, “Take two weeks and pray about it.”
That night, I called my best friend and told her about the offer. She laughed too—and then said something I’ll never forget: “What, does God have to hit you over the head with it?”
And that question stuck with me.
Was this God speaking? Could this be the answer I’d prayed for—even if it didn’t come in the form I expected?
I Said Yes (Even Though I Was Scared)
I wrestled with my fears. What if I failed—publicly, in front of my church family? What if people didn’t respect me anymore because I had a “church job”? What if I couldn’t live up to God’s standards?
But I said yes. And that small yes turned into six beautiful, challenging, God-ordained years.
A Family on Mission
That little youth ministry role grew into something much larger. My three daughters helped me teach lessons, create crafts, and choreograph dances for our Christmas productions. We hosted sports camps in the summer. We ran weekly game nights with crowd favorites like Grog and Ghost in the Graveyard. Even my husband joined in—running sound for events and leading games for Sunday Funday.
We were all in—as a family.
When Faith Becomes Legacy
One of my most meaningful moments came years later, when my oldest daughter got a tattoo of the word “Faith” in my handwriting. She told me I’d taught her so much about God and what it means to live with faith.
That moment wrecked me—in the best way.
Looking back, I realize that God answered my prayer on many levels. I selfishly wanted to feel useful beyond motherhood. But more deeply, I wanted my children to know God. And in His quiet, creative way, He gave me both.
The End of a Season
Eventually, the season came to an end. The kids grew up, the church grew smaller, and I knew it was time to step away. But the impact remained. God left an imprint—on me, on my husband, and on all three of our daughters.
It was never just my calling. It was our calling, as a family.
And it all began with a whisper and I almost missed it.
Amber has a BA in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Human Resources. She spent 9 years working in youth and multi-generational ministry where Amber focused on making faith fun. Her book, The Beginner’s Guide to God, is for anyone wondering how to have a relationship with God. She is the author of the blog AuburnRaven – Balancing Faith, Family & Fun where she writes about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her passion is introducing people to God’s love and biblically equipping parents and teachers so children can grow in faith. Her journey, tips and lessons can be found on her blog www.AuburnRaven.com. You can connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
We may earn money from the products/companies mentioned in this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, read our Terms & Disclosures.
