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Paul shared importance of remembering that God is with us so that we can keep pressing on:
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. . . . At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:9-11, 16-18 New International Version)
Even when we feel abandoned and alone in leadership, this needs to lead us to a place where we are humbled and vulnerable. Leading from this vulnerable place was emphasized by Hatfield (2007):
Unwittingly, perhaps unconsciously, we sometimes feel our titles, our positions, and our responsibilities mean we have to perform in the exact manner expected of us. In so doing we dehumanize ourselves.
Being vulnerable means we are standing totally open as a human being-not as a pastor, not as a senator, not as a leader, not as a follower-just as a human being. There is nothing that elicits response from people more than to feel they are dealing with someone who is on their level, who feels what they feel.
Richard Halverson once reminded me of this, saying, “I am more and more aware that Christ living in you is what really creates the ability to be sensitive and responsive to people.”
I don’t think the Lord taught anything to his followers that is not achievable. Christ did not say, “Come and follow me, but you’ll never really make it because I’m God and you aren’t.”
Unwittingly, perhaps unconsciously, we sometimes feel our titles, our positions, and our responsibilities mean we have to perform in the exact manner expected of us. In so doing we dehumanize ourselves.
Being vulnerable means we are standing totally open as a human being-not as a pastor, not as a senator, not as a leader, not as a follower-just as a human being. There is nothing that elicits response from people more than to feel they are dealing with someone who is on their level, who feels what they feel.
Richard Halverson once reminded me of this, saying, “I am more and more aware that Christ living in you is what really creates the ability to be sensitive and responsive to people.”
I don’t think the Lord taught anything to his followers that is not achievable. Christ did not say, “Come and follow me, but you’ll never really make it because I’m God and you aren’t.”
We have God’s strength in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9), but sometimes our circumstances pressure us to abandon our attempts to enact change. Have you felt ever pressured to quit, and did it make you more dependent on God to press on
