Dogs and cats.

I have said a lot of prayers for dogs and cats. Those that are sick and those that have passed away.

Serving on the kids’ team at my church is one of the highest honors and callings I have had the privilege of living out. Although, there are some Sundays where I simply do not feel like praying for dogs and cats anymore during altar time.

words + photographs TABITHA EUTSLER

I start to think about how there are much bigger issues in this world. We have prayed for that dog for months. And this cat that died years ago. My adult mindset can get in the way of the importance of these prayers.

Recently on a Sunday morning, we had our altar time with the kids. I felt the Lord leading us to each pray on our own. As I talked to the kids, I explained to them – for that particular Sunday – they would find a place all on their own to spend time with the Lord. Not with anyone else. Not with me. Not with a friend. Just them and God.

Immediately, I had students coming up to me, asking questions or wanting to tell me something. I stuck with the expectations and told them, “Go ask God.” A few minutes later, I noticed a young girl crying at the altar, one who had tried to come and talk to me. It was hard to allow her to continue to have that alone moment with God. But she kept closing her eyes and raising her hands and praying out loud. A short while later, I saw a small group of students had surrounded her and were listening to her request and praying over her.

It was a powerful reminder how sometimes adults simply have to get out of the way. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to move like only He can. We have to surrender the way we think things should look or how they should go.

It’s difficult.

It may not go the absolute best way. The path may be different than what we would have taken. We may look around and see what could be done better or in a more efficient way. Instead, maybe we should look around in those moments and identify what is going well, notice where God is moving, see the parts where we can praise the Lord in the midst of the experience.

In that moment, my heart was convicted.

Friend, don’t get tired or weary of praying for the dogs and cats. That’s where a foundation is built. These kids have faith each and every Sunday they can continue to come to the Lord for comfort and peace in a situation that is on their mind week after week, month after month. They want to spend time with Him with any and every request on their minds. As adults, we find ourselves not praying for something we have prayed about for years. We become weary, tired, frustrated; we push it aside.

But God!

We should have an even if mindset. Even if the healing doesn’t happen, even if it doesn’t work out, even if that relationship ends, even if the job we long for doesn’t come. Even if the answer I want is not what I get: GOD, YOU ARE STILL GOOD. You are a good God, and you are good to me.

These kids come to the altar time and time again. They do not grow weary. They take God for who we say He is, for who His Word says He is without question. May our faith be more like a child’s, even if the world tells us differently.

As altar time was coming to a close, a young boy came up to me and wanted to pray with me about a prayer request I had mentioned almost a year ago. My first thought was, I told you this was time for you and God.

But this child’s first words were, “God told me to come and pray with you about this.”

I knew I had to listen because God uses kids in a powerful way to speak life into us, when we allow it. This child spoke words over a longing in my heart. His words were full of conviction, power, encouragement. They were God-led.  

As we both opened our eyes and looked at each other, I could see full belief in his eyes what he had prayed was from the Holy Spirit. Six to eight other kids had gathered around me with their hands on my shoulders and arms, praying over me. I shared with him that for quite a while now my belief in that prayer was struggling, but God had used him to stand in the gap and believe when I had unbelief.

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“Ms. Tabitha, sometimes you just have to believe Jesus is there, and it’s going to be OK.”

The little girl who had been crying earlier at the altar then placed her hand on my shoulder and said with authority, “Ms. Tabitha, sometimes you just have to believe Jesus is there, and it’s going to be OK.”

This whole experience lasted less than 15 minutes from the start of altar time to the end. Yet God showed up. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Those kids trusted with all their heart that day; they didn’t learn on their own understanding. They were guided by the Holy Spirit as they submitted to Him. They led each other, corrected one another, and straightened the paths of those whose belief was wavering. They didn’t need a grownup intervening or pushing them to do something specific. They just needed us to provide the environment and to guide them as they learn to listen to the Lord. In Isaiah, the prophet tells us we are the clay and God is the potter. We are the work of His hand. Surrender what you think the final clay project should look like in your mind. Release the control and allow Him to mold, shape, guide, refine, and lead you. In all situations, remember the words of a child, “Sometimes you just have to believe Jesus is there and it’s going to be OK.”

Tabitha Eutsler is a third grade teacher in Springfield, Missouri. She has been named Springfield Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Kansas City Chiefs Educator of the Game and 20 under 30 BIZ 417 Magazine. Outside of teaching, Tabitha enjoys adventures with her schnoodle, Acer.

COVER Tabitha Eutsler and friend, kids pastor Dez Ritchie teaching together on a Sunday morning in Republic, Missouri.

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