The Joy of Mentoring

According to my Merriam-Webster app, a mentor is a trusted counselor or guide, a tutor or coach. Let’s talk about mentoring!

My Story

When I was in college, our pastor encouraged us students to connect with a believer who was older than we were—someone who would spend time with us and teach us about life and walking with God. Eagerly I said, “Sign me up!” I could hardly wait to get started! Soon I was paired with a kind and mature woman my mother’s age who would drive up to the St. Olaf campus once a week to meet with me.

I guess I expected her to be like one of my many college professors, providing me with a download of mind-blowing information about God and slapping on heavy assignments for me to work on: “Now for next week, Joan, read the entire book of John, and we will talk about the deity of Christ.” But it wasn’t like that. This gentle lady would ask me questions. Questions about my relationship with my parents. (What? They live eight hours away, and I don’t think about them much!) Questions about how things were going with my roommate. (Ah, what does that have to do with learning about God?) Questions about walking in purity in my mind and body. (Gulp. Um, everything’s good there. Could we change the subject please?)

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. What I thought would be this tight teacher-student dynamic turned out to be a somewhat of an awkward relationship. Thankfully this godly woman was wiser than me and kept pursuing me. I don’t know if we ever actually opened the Bible during all those times we got together, but we did have long talks about real things in life, followed by her earnest encouragement to love and obey Jesus and read God’s Word. And then we’d pray—prayer that was personal and powerful.

When I look back at that time in my life, I see that this woman was exactly who I need to bring me forward in God. She taught me about life. About womanhood. About working through conflict and disappointments in life. About not taking myself so seriously. I was a scared twenty-year-old who didn’t know how to trust people. She was busy lady who I’m sure wondered on many occasions if I was worth fitting into her schedule. But through her persistence I learned something huge—that I (a wounded soul) could open up my heart to another woman!

The “trust” factor

When I look at the above definition of a mentor, the word “trusted” stands out to me. Anyone can get a Bible study or go through an online course to learn about God—and I encourage it! Go deeper in your knowledge of him! But there’s also something unique about actually opening your life to someone else—letting yourself be seen as the imperfect person you really are. And then humbly receiving the loving acceptance, instruction, and encouragement of another. (Not to say that a mentoring relationship can’t be academic. Maybe that’s how God will lead you. I’m simply sharing my story.)

On the flip side, mentoring someone younger than you in the Lord can be a richly rewarding experience—though stretching as well. As I’ve mentored people over the years, I find myself spending a lot of time in prayer for them, asking the Holy Spirit to direct the relationship and to reveal what he would have me talk about with them. Personally, I tend to focus on navigating life at home verses downloading Bible knowledge. As my pastor husband always says, “who you are is who you are at home.” Real faith in God should be applied there first!

What about you?

Have you ever thought about approaching someone older in the Lord to ask for their input into your life? Your mentor can’t fix you or solve all your problems, but a good mentor will continually point you to Jesus, the Great Fixer of all of life’s woes.

Have you ever thought about opening your life to someone younger in the Lord than you—becoming their cheerleader to overcome sin and love Jesus more deeply? Maybe you will be the one who teaches them to trust!

Mentoring is biblical. Take the risk.

Titus 2:4-5 NLT These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the Word of God.

Philippians 2:22 NLT But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.

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