Why Mentors Matter in Our Faith

As a mother of two young boys, one of my favorite things to observe is their relationship with their dad. In their eyes, he is a true hero! They ask for haircuts that are the same, want shirts that look like his, and mimic his every move. A great compliment–and responsibility–to him, I’m sure! It also makes me incredibly grateful that they have a father worth emulating. If they grow up to be like him, then I would consider my parenting a great success!

At the core of the human spirit, there seems to be a deep desire to follow someone. How helpful it is to have someone a little further down the road than you are- whether it be in age, or knowledge, or experience. We all tend to look for people to tell us where to go and how to get there. Nowhere is this more important, in my opinion, than in our faith-walk.

If you consider the life of Jesus, it is exactly what he modeled in His life on earth: disciples observing how He moved through the world, and Him teaching them how to do the same. It was the Apostle Paul that would later implore his fellow Christians, “follow me as I follow after Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). So, can I ask you—who are you following?

When I consider my own faith-walk, it has been Christian mentors that have made the most tangible difference in my life: speaking truth when I need, encouragement when I am filled with doubt, and a challenge when my pride has cut off what God might be whispering to me. It has been Christian women a few steps ahead of me that have helped me become more like Jesus in a way that I never would have without them.

Maybe you sit here today desperate for someone to speak into your life or maybe you sit here contemplating if such a thing is even necessary. No matter which camp you find yourself in, let me give you some biblical encouragement to find a mentor, and lean in.

So how do you find one? If they are an essential part of the Christian life, how do you go about finding the right person and the right fit?

• Pray. As cliché as it sounds, seek wisdom from the ultimate Counselor. Ask God that he would begin to show you people in your life that follow Him in a way that you admire and would like to emulate. You’ll be surprised that the people He illuminates for you.
• Seek honestly. Once you feel as though God has revealed someone that would make a good fit, approach them honestly about what you’re looking for. Share with them your hopes in meeting together, getting as specific as how often you’d like to get together and what things you would like their wisdom on. The more you can share up front about your expectations, the better your meetings will be and the more equipped your mentor will feel going in.
• Meet graciously. As you begin meeting, extend grace to both yourself and your mentor. Establishing trust will take time, and meetings at first might feel rigid and unfruitful. Keep meeting. Allow time for each of you to get to know the other, and trust that God will be at work. Remember that your mentor is only human, so understand that though you are seeking spiritual maturity, you will not get perfection from them. Trust that if you prayed through the process, God has brought you together for a purpose and will see it through.

One of my favorite images in all of Scripture is given at the start of Hebrews 12, where it speaks of the “cloud of witnesses” believers are surrounded by: men and women who have run their race, who give us the endurance to run our own as well. But can I encourage you, the cloud of witnesses doesn’t just stand before you in heaven cheering you on. They are around you here and now as well! So, use them. Lean into the believers who are running their race right now and ask if you can run alongside them. Ask for their help in throwing off the sin that entangles you and in encouraging you to persevere as you run the race God has called you to.

Cover photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

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