Insecurity Stunts Leadership

https://lifework.teachable.com/p/insecure

Do you ever feel insecure? I remember this being an early struggle for me as a kid. I hated to lose on the basketball or baseball field. Many times, I struggled with my self-image. I worried about what people would say about me. I have a lot of freckles, you know. haha. I’m not a 12 year old anymore, but insecurity can rear its ugly head in this 34 year old. It comes in different shapes and sizes, I think. As an adult, our identity can shift to being all about our performance. We can feel inadequate based on people’s perceptions or opinions. 

As I’m learning how to be more secure in God, here are a few things I’m learning and I hope can be an encouragement to you: 

Insecurity left alone breeds the fear of failure. Once a leader feels insecure, they turn insular and are afraid of losing what they once had. Instead of looking at leadership as a gift to be stewarded, they look at it as a possession to protect. Instead of being a channel of God’s grace, they contain it for themselves. 

Insecurity left alone becomes controlling. Insecurity seeks to control others and their God-given spiritual giftedness, especially, if it is different than ours. We put boundaries around a person so that they learn to play in our “sandbox,” so the attention goes back to us. What if they change something? Good! Maybe it is an area of weakness for us - but by freeing them up to lead, could help the overall church family move forward. 

Insecurity left alone breeds comparison. When we compare ourselves with others, we either feel discouraged or prideful. Instead of comparing, we should look for opportunities to grow. There is always someone ahead of you that you could learn from and some with less experience that you could come alongside and encourage.

When we learn to trust people and empower them in the giftedness God has given, we will learn to take our hands off the wheel and watch as other leaders grow.

What are your thoughts?

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Discouragement Isn't Final

We all face it. We feel it. At different times and in different circumstances, we feel discouraged. Sometimes, we feel it because of a decision you make or someone else makes. Sometimes it is an invisible discouragement from the enemy of our souls. Satan tries to chip away at our joy.

You might be reading this and feeling discouraged. Maybe things you hoped for haven’t happened yet. Maybe you feel like a failure. A mess-up. Someone that can’t seem to figure things out especially when you feel like people around you have.

Everyone in the Bible faced discouragement. As a Pastor, I walk through seasons where I have to make a decision - how will I respond in the face of discouragement?

Here’s a few lessons that I’m learning. I hope they encourage you:

1. Be authentic with God (Psalm 55:22). Talk to God. Tell Him everything. Don’t leave anything out. He can handle it. He already knows and He can change stuff, even us! You know, it might not be the circumstances, it could be that He wants to give us a new perspective and hope within the circumstances. This is why I journal. I write out my prayers and everything and in a sense, “give it to God.” It helps me to avoid stuffing my discouragement and, instead, cast it to God.

2. Avoid isolation. Build relationships with others that will draw your attention to the hope that is found in God’s Word. Be vulnerable with a friend that loves Jesus and you. Not everyone has the ability to think beyond themselves to help encourage you. Be real and avoid burying the truth. Allow godly community to help you heal (James 5:16).

3. Live to please God above all else. You won’t make everyone happy. Remember whose you are and that you live for His glory. Remember, Jesus gives you an identity as His child. Nobody can take that away, not even stupid Satan! You aren’t your past. You aren’t your struggles. You are new in Christ. Live in this identity. Ultimately, I will take an account of my life when I stand before God.

The song, “Do it Again” has been impactful to me and my family lately. We sing it on Sundays at church and in our home and in the car.

Elevation Worship brings you the official lyric video to their single "Do it Again" off of their album, "There Is A Cloud".

Discouragement isn’t final!

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

— Revelation 21:3-7