The Reluctant Leader

We have all heard of “Natural Born Leaders”.  They are the kind of leaders that seem to just rise to the top.  They are the captains of the football team, the Science Project leaders, the people you just seem to look up to and you are not really sure why but after awhile you have followed them for miles like Forest Gump running down the road.  You can just look at them and say…yep…they are a leader! 

But many more times than not we see what an author calls “reluctant leaders”.   These leaders are reluctant to lead because of some sort of inadequacy they perceive or actually have within them.  It might be a lack of self confidence, a physical abnormality, they don’t feel they have enough experience; it could be any number of reasons that cause leaders to be reluctant.

Ironically, reluctant leaders most often show a sincere heartfelt calling to leadership because they are less focused on what they are doing and more focused on what God is doing.  They are quick to deflect success or challenge to God and give Him the praise for all of it.  We all can learn a valuable lesson from Reluctant Leaders. 

Whether you are a Natural Born or Reluctant Leader, God has a call for your life.  He wants to see you push yourself and trust him in the areas of your life that aren’t spelled out clearly.  He wants to see you apply what you are good at and overcome your inadequacies for His glory. You see God has a tendency to push us to step outside of ourselves - outside of our comfort, outside of what we think we know, outside of what we have “always done”.  He pushes us to the point where we get scared and have to trust Him because, if we didn’t, we would never do it. 

Please know that we do not blindly follow a leader that is running along with no plan in mind like Forest Gump.  We will not be let down someday and find out our guide is now “tired and wants to go home”.  No!  We follow the Living God that is sprinting out in front showing us the path we should take.  He is encouraging us, defending us, rejoicing with us, and leading us on a journey for His Kingdom.  Our job is to faithfully follow and remain obedient to his call whatever that may be. 

As we continue to journey toward the new Lockport Campus, many opportunities will arise to serve and lead.  My encouragement to you is to listen to God’s call to you in this process.  Listen to His knock on your heart and allow yourself to open the door to new possibilities.  Whether you are reluctant or chomping at the bit to get going, do not allow Satan a foothold of doubt in your spirit.  Cling firm the promise that God is on your side and is thrilled to see you stretch your Faith.  He will continue to do a great work in your life through this journey.

All For His Glory,

Brian Hunt

 

Campus Pastor

Comments

[Rich Renik]

I am ready to go where this man has not gone before!

[Jennifer Rauh]

Ok, were you writing this to me? lol I have within the past month realized that the character in the Bible I am is Moses. I know in the depth of my soul that God created me to do big things for him. However, like Moses I feel like I do not have the strong communication skills needed. There are so many times I try to pass this part on, and Lisa who is my Aaron tells me 'no, it is my responsibility'. I am protesting less and less as I realize that when I need words God gives me the words. Everything I do is because God is doing it. I am just me, and I screw up alot. I am learning to listen to God's voice in the moments of struggles and easy times. My will, which I wanted so bad to control has been happily broken. I am humbled to realize that God really does love me inspite of my history, and it breaks my heart when someone else does not yet know this freedom. I used to only see God and His joy in other people. I now have this same joy that is so deep and warm that my life has truely changed forever.