As I was cleaning my house this weekend, I couldn’t help but wish I had a house-cleaning fairy to come and help me. Actually, come to think of it, I’d like a dish fairy, laundry fairy, toilet-cleaning fairy, and bed-making fairy too!
Can I get an ‘amen’?
If you’re like me, you might have a tendency to hoard responsibilities and rarely ask for help. Meanwhile, you silently grow more and more resentful as time goes on.
It’s not a pretty picture, is it?
The sad thing is, I could’ve asked for help this weekend. My husband would have gladly helped me put away the laundry, and my stepson would have, although probably not as gladly, picked up his 1,000 Nerf gun bullets around the house. (Seriously, those things multiply!)
Instead, I loaded it all on my own shoulders and failed to provide my family with an opportunity to serve both me and one another.
I wish I could say this kind of responsibility-hoarding behavior was confined to my own home. However, if I’m not careful, the little resentment bug could come and bite me at work, church, or while I’m leading women in Bible study.
Has this happened to you as a Bible study leader? Have you ever grown resentful of the other women in your group, feeling as if you are carrying all of the weight yourself?
If so, I’m going to let you in on something.
The secret to leading without resentment is delegation.
If you are leading a women’s group and find that you tend to hoard all of the responsibility on yourself, here are 3 ways to lead without resentment this fall:
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Delegate food
Is there someone in your group who is the hostess with the mostest? Perhaps she is happiest when serving up delicious homemade treats and having everyone in her home. Let her use her gift and be responsible for all things hospitality. This frees up some of your responsibility as a leader while also providing a leadership opportunity for someone else!
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Delegate faith
Even if you are the primary Bible study teacher in your group, you can still delegate. Is there someone in your group who is a budding teacher? Consider letting her lead some weeks. Is there someone in your group who has a gift for prayer? Delegate prayer requests and leading prayer to her! Does anyone in your group have administrative gifts? Ask her to handle emailing out group communication and keeping up with upcoming events. Delegating some of the “faith” aspects of your group will not only help you keep your sanity but it will give ladies in your group the chance to use the gifts God has given them. It’s basically a win-win for everybody!
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Delegate the fun
One of the best ways to foster close friendships in your group is to spend quality time together outside of Bible study. Planning fun outings will loosen everybody up and make your Bible study time more fruitful. However, planning fun activities can be time-consuming and take away from your weekly preparation. Recruit a party planner in your group who knows how to rally the troops and doesn’t mind the back and forth of finding a time that works for everyone.
If you’re unsure of who could lead in these areas, ask yourself these questions: Have you prayed that God would raise up someone to lead in these ways? Have you made the ask to the girls to see if anyone is interested? Have you provided an opportunity to see the girls lead out in their giftings?
Don’t let the resentment bug bite you this fall as you lead your Bible study! Start praying today about how you can delegate the food, faith, and fun in your group.
Afterall, Bible study fairies, and even house-cleaning fairies, do exist. You just have to ask them to help.
Mickey Pitts serves as a Marriage & Family Strategist for Lifeway Christian Resources. She is passionate about equipping couples with tools to help their marriages and families thrive. Mickey loves ministering to women and coaches women’s Bible study leaders in her local church. Mickey and her husband Reed live in Spring Hill, TN with her 7 year old stepson, Landon, and a crazy Wheaten Terrier named Dexter.
