This last weekend I got the opportunity to lead what some people call "Discipleship Now weekend" or "DNOW" for short at a local church. If you don't know what a "Discipleship Now" weekend is, it's kind of like a weekend retreat for sixth through 12th graders or a mini version of a summer camp.

I led half of the 6th-grade girls, which was 11 12-year-old girls to be exact. At first, I was utterly and completely terrified. I didn't know these girls prior to the event, nor did I know very many of the other leaders.

When it comes to these kinds of events and you teaching other children about the word of God there's a huge responsibility squarely on your shoulders. These kids are looking up to you. They want to know what you know. They want to do what you do.

A few weeks ago, I realized just how fast this last weekend was approaching, and I started wondering whether I was fully equipped to even do it. I have sinned. I have struggled in my faith.

Was I good enough to lead 11 girls in their walk with Christ?

I felt unclean and not worthy of the task at hand.

The lesson plans that each leader would teach their groups, came out a few days before. It wasn't until I was actually teaching the girls about the passage that the full weight of the message hit me:

"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”Then Jesus told them this parable:“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shouldersand goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Luke 15: 1-7

God cares that you sin, yes, but He still loves you no matter what. He will run after you until He has you. When He catches you, He'll pick you up, put you on His back and walk with you every single step of the way and never let go.

I got the opportunity to talk to a lot of the girls in my group individually and some of them have serious things going on for being so young, but their happiness and faith in God NEVER wavered. Their energy and craving for wanting to know more was refreshing and inspiring in more ways than one.

Long story short, never let your past or what you're going through sell you short of the opportunities you have in the future. YOU are a light to some people. Shine bright.