Stepping Back so others can Step forward
3 weeks ago, the girls (Zabiba, Hloniphile, Phumlile) and I went to South Africa after the Lord had told us to pray. Every time I asked the Lord for direction for this second term of Bible Studies he said “step back”. Over and over he just kept saying “step back” to the effect of let these girls step up. I admit I like to be in control of things because when I’m in control then things run the way I want them to. However the more I step up and do “everything” the less the girls can do. I thought I was going to give a few more responsibilities over to them but the closer it got for the term to start the Lord wants me to step back completely and let these girls do it.
Last Tuesday I met with the girls after our break and told them that if these Bible Studies continue or not it is fully up to them. I gave them the mandate through Isaiah 61:1-3 and gave each of them specific job descriptions that they are responsible for. I prayed for them and ans
wered any questions they had and we went home. The next day, to my joy and my surprise, these girls ran with it in full force. They had calendars up on the wall, typing up leaders manuals, making lists of everything they needed, organizing. I met with them to check on what they had done and they started asking me more questions but I told them most of these questions they have to answer for themselves.
Stepping back is the hardest thing, I’m starting to get a picture of what motherhood must be like of letting go of your children and thinking “Lord, they aren’t ready” and wanting to protect them from difficulties but I have to let them problem solve and face challenges head on. Prepare them, Lord, and protect them. Please pray for these precious daughters of the King of Kings as they are going to lead this next generation of women in Swaziland to purity!
