Be Strong and Courageous: A Devotional for Children's Ministry Leaders

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

A New Ministry Year Can Feel Overwhelming

September can sometimes feel like a giant reset button. The older kids have moved up. New littles are walking (or toddling) through your doors. Volunteers are difficult to come by. Landing on training dates feels impossible. And if you’re honest, you might be feeling a bit too stretched already.

Reflecting on this, let’s be reminded of something powerful: We’re not doing this alone. God isn’t passively watching us try to keep the goldfish crackers stocked and the curriculum prepped. He’s with us: in the mess, in the fun, in the faithfulness.

Joshua 1:9 isn’t a gentle suggestion. It’s a command. (Yes, it was directed to Joshua, but His word is living and breathing, and we can receive it today, for ourselves, too): **“Be strong and courageous.” **Why? Because God knows what’s coming and He’s already walking ahead of us.

It can be tempting to try to muscle through ministry on coffee and good intentions. But strength in this work comes from staying rooted in Jesus, not running ourselves into the ground.

It might feel like no matter how much we do to be ready; we’re still not prepared. But our strength doesn’t come from experience or degrees or even a full roster of volunteers. It comes from the God who called us.

Let’s plant ourselves in that. Let our strength rise up from our faith, not our fears.

Be Bold and Courageous in Your Calling

We well know that kids ministry isn’t babysitting. It’s discipleship. It’s where spiritual foundations are poured. And it’s worth being bold about.

This year let’s speak up.

• Be courageous in our expectations for the year.

• Share the vision God’s put on our hearts.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for the volunteers, resources, or support our ministries need because it matters. Eternally.

(And let’s be blunt: if a church doesn’t invest in kids, it won’t have a church in a generation. Say that again if you need to.)

Okay, boldness. Check.
Courage. Check.

Do Not Be Afraid or Discouraged

“Do not be afraid or discouraged…” oh, God help us! That is easier said than done.

You know the mental spiral:

• “What if the kids don’t engage?”

• “Why are the parents so disengaged?”

• “Why is no one signing up to help?”

Fear and discouragement can wear down even the most faithful leaders. But this verse cuts through that fog: do not be afraid or discouraged. Not because the work is easy. But because God is with us and His presence changes everything.

It’s important for us to remember, God doesn’t show up when the kids finally sit still or the curriculum clicks. He’s with us in the awkward moments, the loud rooms, the hard conversations, and the joyful breakthroughs.

Be assured: wherever you go this year – into team meetings, messy craft time, hallway parent chats – He goes with you. We’re not just doing ministry for Him; we’re doing it with Him.

A Prayer for Ministry Leaders

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for your calling into this beautiful, messy, holy work.
Please, Lord, remind every leader reading this that they are not alone.
Fill them with strength, courage, and joy.
Give them fresh vision.
Help them speak boldly, love deeply, and lead with Your heart.
May they know, truly know, that You are with them wherever they go.
Amen.