There comes a point in ministry when you realize something isn’t working. The people aren’t moving. The momentum has stalled. The vision that once burned bright feels more like a distant memory. You’ve prayed, you’ve worked, and you’ve poured yourself into it, but still… nothing is breaking through.

That’s when the word change starts knocking on your heart.

Change Requires Prayer First

Before you touch a program, shift a strategy, or adjust a ministry plan, the first step is not action — it’s prayer. James 1:5 reminds us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God… and it shall be given him.”

Change without direction is just guessing. And guessing in ministry can cause more harm than good. When you sense the need for change, take it to the Lord in fasting and prayer. Ask Him:

• What exactly needs to change?
• Why is it not working now?
• How can I change it without damaging the people or the mission?

When the Holy Spirit gives clarity, you’ll have the confidence to act — and the faith to stand by the decision.

Be Willing to Pull the Trigger

Once you have God’s direction, don’t hesitate. Fear of making the wrong move can paralyze a leader. But indecision is its own form of leadership failure.

If the Holy Spirit has confirmed it’s time for change, step out boldly. Remember, your church or ministry is watching your courage as much as your ideas. People will follow a leader who moves forward in faith.

The Danger of Constant Change

While change is sometimes necessary, constant change can be deadly to trust. If you switch programs, strategies, or directions every few months, people begin to feel whiplash.

Instead of seeing you as a visionary, they may see you as uncertain. And uncertainty wears people out. When every new plan replaces the last before it has time to grow, your team will stop investing their energy. Why? Because they expect it won’t last.

A leader who changes constantly often does so out of impatience or the fear of sitting still. But in ministry, growth takes time. Not every season is a harvest; some are planting, watering, and waiting.

Change Is Good — When It’s for the Right Reasons

Change should be intentional, not impulsive. It should be about advancing the mission, not just chasing novelty. It should solve a real problem, not distract from deeper issues.

Ask yourself:

• Is this change Spirit-led or leader-driven?
• Will this change bring us closer to our mission?
• Have I given the current approach enough time to work?

If you can answer those questions with confidence — and you’ve prayed it through — then change can be the very thing God uses to unlock a new season of growth.

A Final Word

Change is not the enemy. In fact, when led by the Spirit, it can be one of the greatest tools God uses to bring life back to a struggling ministry. But change for change’s sake is just motion without progress.

Pray first. Listen closely. Then, when you know it’s time, lead with boldness. And once you’ve made the change, stand by it long enough to see what God will do.

For powerful messages that explore how to lead through seasons of transformation, check out our sermons on change over at PreachIt.org’s sermon prep page here. May they inspire fresh direction and courage for the journey ahead.

About Pastor James Smith

Pastor James Smith, Valparaiso, Indiana – Founder of PreachIt.org, OpportunityHope.org, and PastoralHelps.com.

He equips pastors worldwide with sermons, leadership tools, and encouragement, while also caring for orphaned and at-risk children in West Bengal, India through OpportunityHope. Beyond the orphanage and school, OpportunityHope provides clean water wells, livestock, and other humanitarian helps to families and villages in need. Additional books, leadership training, and mentoring resources are available through PastoralHelps.com.