There seems to be a leadership vacuum in our world. Those who are in leadership seem to be more concerned with getting re-elected than they are with the needs of those they have been elected to serve. This also goes beyond politicians. We are waiting for others to step up and do the work and when they do not, it becomes so easy to enact cancel culture. We are ready to throw away others and dismiss them when they do not follow our perceived guidelines. This is dangerous on so many levels because as much as we want grace, we fail to extend that to others. Yet, it absolves us from being responsible as well. This is not to say that those who are in the public eye are dismissed from accountability. They are to be held accountable. And so are we. Our accountability though is not through the approval of others or comments on social media but from our God. God is holding us accountable for what we do and what we fail to do.
God has called each of us to do something that will make a difference. Leadership is not solely for those in elected or in public facing roles. “Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal. Notice key elements of this definition: Leadership stems from social influence, not authority or power. Leadership requires others, and that implies they don’t need to be “direct reports””. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/04/09/what-is-leadership/#3e53139b5b90) All of us are in relationships through our families, friends, co-workers, personal and professional associations. In each of those spaces, we have influence and the ability to make a difference through our words and actions. It is important that we steward those relationships well. The most important relationship we have is with God and if that relationship is not maintained through prayer, meditation, reading of God’s Word and fellowship, our connection is limited and further impacts our ability to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Just like you plug your phone up to be charged so that it has power, if you are not intentionally charging your connection to God, you will be powerless and your impact, at best, is spotty.
For many of us, we are trusting in our own ability to make things happen and when we fail, we blame it on God—we didn’t seek Him first. We were not trusting God’s ability but our own. For others, we are afraid to move forward because we are hiding. The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis is the story for so many of us. Genesis 3:8 states, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” For some of us, we are hiding form God because we are ashamed. The fear of being perceived as less than or vulnerable keeps us away from pursuing more in our lives. We are hiding from others AND we are hiding from God because we see our limitations and do not see the possibilities in God. Just as God was walking through the garden looking for Adam and Eve, is it possible that God is walking through, looking for us and we are hiding because of guilt, shame, feeling inadequate and scared? God is calling us to come out of hiding, to seek Him, and allow God to cover our fears, our shame, our feelings of being small and inadequate as He clothes us in His love, grace, and mercy. Stop focusing on what others have created and focus on the Creator of ALL. Your gifts and talents could be the very thing that makes a difference in your home, on your job, within your organization, or in your community.
Recognize our destinies are connected and if you stay hidden, you might hold the key to the liberation of others from their shame, guilt, and bondage into their purpose and passion. God is not asking for perfection. God is asking for your willingness to say yes and walk in your purpose, trusting and seeking God every step of the way.