Let’s be honest. Kids Ministry is TOUGH. Yes, it is full of joy, but it seems equally loaded with challenges. There are moments of laughter, life-changing conversations, and the privilege of guiding kids toward Jesus. But there are also long days, unexpected hurdles, and seasons where things don’t go the way we hoped. And if we’re honest, in those tough moments, it’s easy to slip into ‘If only…’ thinking.
- If only I had more money…
- If only I had more workers…
- If only I had more support from parents…
- If only I had more space…
- If only my pastor understood kids’ ministry better…
- If only I had more time…
- If only I had better resources…
- If only the culture wasn’t so against us…
- If only kids weren’t so distracted…
- If only I had more energy…
These thoughts creep in when we feel like we’re not measuring up, when we’re stretched thin, or when we see another church that seems to have everything figured out. But here’s the problem with “If Only” thinking: it keeps us focused on what we don’t have rather than what we do.
The Trap of “If Only” Thinking
It’s easy to believe that if we just had one more worker, one more room, one more budget increase, everything would be different. But that kind of thinking robs us of the joy of ministry. It turns our focus from God’s provision to our own perceived limitations.
When we focus on what’s missing, we lose sight of the incredible blessings right in front of us:
- Kids to love and teach.
- God’s Word, which never returns void. (Isaiah 55:11)
- A calling that will bear fruit in time if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9)
- Faithful volunteers, even if they are few, who show up and serve with love.
- Moments when we see a child’s eyes light up with understanding about Jesus.
- The joy of serving, because in Your presence there is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11)
- Opportunities to share the Gospel freely and boldly. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
It’s time to Flip the Script and Count Your Blessings!
What if, instead of saying “If only…”, we started saying “Thank You, Lord, for…”?
- “Thank You, Lord, for the kids I have, not the ones I wish I had.”
(Every child in your ministry is a divine appointment, placed there by God for you to love and disciple.) - “Thank You, Lord, for the volunteers I do have, not the ones I wish I had.”
(Invest in those who are showing up, and let God draw more to join your team.) - “Thank You, Lord, for the resources I have, and help me use them well.”
(Jesus fed 5,000 people with a boy’s lunch — He can do more with what you already have than you can imagine.) - “Thank You, Lord, for the opportunity to make an eternal impact.”
(Even when you don’t see immediate results, you are planting seeds that will last for eternity.)
God Has Already Given You What You Need
There’s a powerful reminder in 2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
This verse doesn’t say God will eventually give us what we need. It says He has already given it to us. Sometimes, the problem isn’t a lack of resources — it’s our perspectiveon the resources we already have. I’ve had to learn this the hard way. There were seasons in ministry where I was frustrated, overwhelmed, and exhausted. I was carrying a burden that, in reality, no one was asking me to carry — not my pastor, not my volunteers, not even God.
Remember these stunning words of Jesus, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) Maybe you don’t need more money, more space, or more workers as much as you need more peace, more joy, and more rest in God’s sufficiency.
A Final Encouragement
Could it be that you already have everything you need to do what God is asking you to do right now? Yes, more money, more workers, and more support might be nice. But at the end of the day, your ministry is not sustained by what you lack — it is sustained by a God who provides.
Instead of dwelling on “If only”, let’s choose to say, “Thank You, Lord.” And as you focus on what you do have, you may just find that God has been equipping you all along.
Visit kidology.org/ifonlykidmin to download a PDF of this article.
