Coloring Outside the Proverbial Lines

There’s something beautiful about a crayon box. Each color is distinct, designed with purpose, and yet the real beauty emerges when we dare to blend, layer, and—yes—color outside the lines.

In ministry, we often inherit outlines: traditions, expectations, rhythms that have served faithfully for generations. But what happens when the Spirit nudges us beyond them? What if growth in Christ means not just coloring within the lines of comfort, but stepping into the wide canvas of transformation?

As a pastor and a seminary student, I’ve found myself in seasons where God’s call didn’t fit neatly into the templates I once trusted. Leadership in Christ isn’t static, it’s dynamic, stretching us into new shapes of grace. It’s learning to lead not just from what we know, but from what we’re willing to discover.

Change in the church can feel risky. It can stir questions, discomfort, even resistance. But Scripture is full of holy disruptions:

• Abraham left everything familiar to follow a promise.

• Moses led a people through wilderness, not certainty.

• Paul reimagined ministry across cultures and contexts.

• Jesus Himself healed on the Sabbath, spoke in parables, and welcomed those the world had cast aside.

These weren’t acts of rebellion but instead were acts of renewal. They were moments when God’s leaders colored outside the lines to reveal a bigger picture of mercy, justice, and joy. Things that had to be done in order to get His message to the world.

To grow as a leader in Christ is to listen deeply to Scripture, to the Holy Spirit, and to the people we serve. It’s also to leap when God says “go,” even if the path isn’t fully drawn. Are you ready to lead? Are you ready to go to where God is calling you?