Motivation Monday - Developing the leader within
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made the wrong decision.
I’m talking about big important life decisions.
On one such occasion, I came across that infamous verse in James and out of frustration threw my Bible across the room.
It says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV)
I was overwhelmed by the trials and angry and disappointed with my circumstances. I didn’t fully understand at the time what I know now, God was developing me.
You matter very much to God. He sees every last bit of what you are going through. He is able to hold all of the needs and the details and focus on you and your heart and what you need to transform into the very leader he created you to be.
Thankfully, a mature leader is not evidenced by a problem-free track record. Instead, we can recognize them by the freedom with which they live in the face of problems.
Free to ask forgiveness and to give it.
Free to surrender control and trust God.
Free to release the burdens of the day and serve the person in front of them.
Free to truly be themselves, fully loved and valued and accepted by God.
Free to take steps of faith in the face of fear.
These are the markers of the maturity James was talking about, and they’re what God is developing in you right now.
I am in the middle of one of those transformation seasons right now. I wish I could tell you it was less frustrating than that time I threw my Bible across the room, but it isn’t. It’s still hard. What does help now is that I recognize the development process.
As Paul says in Ephesians,
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Right now, God is using a big life decision gone wrong to strip away some of the old in me. He is showing me where I can renew my mind, and inviting me to put on the ‘new’.
The painful part is acknowledging the old.
The confusing part is in between the old and the new - not quite sure who you are anymore.
The freeing part is fully receiving and putting on that new that God offers us.
God is the very best at developing the leader within us, I hope and pray that today you are able to fully trust Him, and believe that he is actively transforming you into the leader he created you to be.
- Kate