10/16/21 by Larry Barker
Ministry has been glamorized by some, especially those who are idealists by nature. The ministry often begins with dreams, goals, values, and aspirations that are noble and genuinely motivated by a desire to make a difference for Christ. What happens when your idealism collides with the reality of the battle you find yourself in? One pastor commented, “Now I was responsible for a ministry, and my insecurities surfaced. In fact, they intensified. I wanted to please God and do well. However, I knew I couldn’t. I was afraid of people.” The reality of ministry is that we are called to a task that is beyond our capabilities!
God does not operate according to the world’s thinking of only working through our strengths. He utilizes our strengths because He made in His image and hardwired each one of us for His purposes. However, rather than only accentuating our strengths God strengthens those who have surrendered to Him. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, said it this way, “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” God does not throw away our strengths but He also works through our weaknesses which are many. Are you willing to surrender your insecurities to Christ?
Leadership must begin with the leader building and sustaining an intimate daily relationship with Christ. You must know yourself to lead yourself and you must lead yourself to lead others into becoming more like Christ. In What Really Matters Bill Wellons challenges us to be inside-out leaders. He states that one of our greatest threats is our unwillingness to face our insecurities. That scares us because spiritual leaders are supposed to have it all together, all of the time. That is not reality and Bill states this speaking of leaders, “Defensiveness is often their self-protecting response to keep from facing weakness.”
Call it what you want; insecurities, fears, weaknesses, or any other descriptor, but the truth is that we all have them. In The 100X Leader Kubicek and Cockram state, “What is true with climbing is true with leadership and life – the higher you climb the harder it gets, and the more you must understand yourself.” A spiritually healthy leader will remain open to self-examination and honesty in their struggles, weaknesses, tendencies, and insecurities. God created us with a particular DNA and we all have certain tendencies. This is why we must remain open to examination by the Holy Spirit. (Psalm 139:23-24)
Once again from The 100X Leader, “We all have certain tendencies that create patterns of actions and behavior that generate consequences that ultimately shape our current reality.” Your tendencies will always be present because that is how God hardwired you. Whether you are extroverted or introverted, task-oriented or people-oriented, a deep thinker or more a feeler, slow to decide or quick to pull the trigger, or prone to be over-confident or prone to be insecure. Are your tendencies in your life producing the results you desire? How often have our hasty decisions and quick temper generated undesired consequences?
In our coach training one acronym, we like to use is G.R.O.W. You begin in coaching others by checking in on their Goals. You seek to help them gain clarity on how they want to move forward. Then you focus on their Reality. These first two components are so important in self-awareness. What are you needing to work on and how will you move forward? The reality check requires honesty, transparency, and outside eyes to give you perspective. Are you correctly assessing your situation? If you are unhappy with your outcomes and consequences and you desire to produce a different reality, it is time to change.
Now you should focus on your Options. This might be my favorite and the most important. Because of our insecurities, we often think there are no options except quitting, giving up, moving on, or just accepting the status quo but because Jesus is on His throne there are always options. What possible courses of action and next steps are available as we trust in the power of God to strengthen us and move in our midst? Your tendencies may never change because of who you are but they can be overcome. God has promised that He will complete the work He began in you.
Consider getting a coach, and everyone should have one, but you can also coach yourself by asking, “What should I do next?” Do you have the will and do you know the way to move forward? Once you have clarified what needs to be done that is not enough. Now you must commit to doing what is necessary. Even in reading and studying the scripture you observe, you interpret, but the journey is not complete unless you apply. It is not only what God is showing you but also what He is wanting you to do about it? If you are struggling with insecurities, be open and honest about it. Then place your trust in Him to give you the grace you need to press forward in the calling He has placed upon you. You say, “I am not capable of carrying out that calling!” Exactly! Lauren Daigle’s song, You Say, reminds us, “I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough. Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up. Am I more than just the sum of every high and low, remind me once again just who I am because I need to know.” The answer? A child of the most high God called to carry out His mission with the promise of His presence and His power!