Pressure is the Leader’s Friend
Hey Friends,
You know, I believe one of the main reasons so many are repelled by leadership is the pressure that pops up from time to time. Today is one of those days in which I feel the pressure, and when it builds it seems to come from every angle. As a leader there are two things we must do with pressure:
1. Receive it and face the hard times, decisions, or issues that are causing the pressure. In the church world the pressure can come fast and furious. It can be regarding budget, buildings, service times, needed staff or staff members that need to leave. Some that are loved, leave and create a new hole – like our student Pastor, Randy Riggins, who is going to First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Sometimes the pressure can be relational or a conflict in the congregation. The list is as long as your imagination or just your memory.
As the leader we must face the problem regardless of the pressure. It is our job! I guess that is why so many don’t want the position. It is easy to be an armchair quarterback and question all the calls on the field. I have found that those NOT doing it can always do it better than those who are doing it. NO pressure in the La-Z-Boy.
2. Release the pressure and give it to the Lord. He said, “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” It is easy to internalize the problems and pressure and yet at the end of the day it is the Lord’s church, and it is His ministry. He is more than able to take care of the problems if we give Him the pressure and deal with the difficulty. I’ve got to tell you, with over 3,000 worshippers every weekend and starting a new leadership ministry, Kaleo, the problems can come quickly.
I just run to the Lord from which my help comes. HE can and I can’t. Are you looking to Him for all you need when the pressure is pumping? He can!
Yours to count on,
Pastor
6 Comments
Great timing on the blog. I’m facing some pressure situations, but it’s situations I have chosen and welcome. Still, it doesn’t make things easier. I am having to look to God more and more for help because, as you said, He can and I can’t. I think this ties back to an entry (and message) a few weeks back about how it’s easy to make decisions but difficult to act on them. Keeping that idea in my head has allowed me to stay focused on my actions rather than my words.
I have been challenged by two words ‘grow up’ this week has been hard if not for me and my wife growing up could have lot worse. This series has slapped me in the face and i like it. Pressure can bust pipes or makes diamonds dont follow GOD see what happens.
I agree with Josh. Right on time. Yesterday was one of those days with one of my children. He has been behaving in ways that are dangerous to his charachter by speaking from lack of knowledge and from an immature perception. Some children take longer than others.These incidents have been building for a couple of weeks and my husband and I would speak to him but to no avail. It reached the stopping point yesterday. The Lord stepped in and began to give wisdom and instruction to deal. Renewing my strength and resolve to see hope that I did not have to just take it but that very decisive action could be acted upon and by trusting His Word my son could recieve admonishing exhortation, instruction accountability, and transformational teaching (all one and the same) and that it was our responsibility to give it. The pressure of not knowing what to do birthed a reliance on His Holy Spirit to put into action what spiritual weapons were needed and how to use them by uncompromising faith. There was an immediate humbelness and acceptance of Truth in the apology my son produced. Until the work is done in leading them in the way they should go, He will equip us as faithful stewards to that which we have been given from above. Having faith that my son will then have the hunger for the the Voice of God when he matures for himself to be led of Jesus. The pressure of all this birthed in me also the importance of asking the Lord(renewed contiual prayer daily) for His covering of that which concerns our houshold. That we have the authority and responsibility in Jesus to bar the door from anything that exalts itself above Jesus and that we shouldn’t just shrink back from our responsibility because we feel persecuted or overwhelmed or powerless to change anything. NO. We stand firm, in Jesus. After all, all of us our stewards of something, even if it is just our own soul; and we will be required to give an account….yes? Pressure produces Godly resolve to walk in His ways for those who trust in Him, and the ability and strength to see it through. Pressure is inevitiable in this world in many areas and how we handle it is definately important to God, to our lives and those whom we love or are given to us to influence. I’m sorry I have to say, it is good and encouraging to hear the admission that the same afflictions don’t just visit me but us all. 1 Peter 5. It’s no longer misery loves company, but we are known by our Love, by our JESUS.
The interesting thing I have found about pressure in my life is that it either exposes the weaknesses in my character or it develops me into a stronger person. The difference in outcomes is never dependent on the pressure itself, it is dependent on me and how I choose to respond to the pressure.
WOW! Great insight Clay. Thanks for that view. I’ll remember that and use it! Upon feeling the pressure of life, I always keep telling myself that GOD is not going to give me more than I can handle. It’s hard but at the end of the day I know this is where he wants me to be.
I saw your “Leadership Decisions” blog post on the Church Solutions newsletter and wanted to hear more. In the last half hour, I have been energized and enlightened by your posts. Thank you for letting God speak through you and taking the time to write these to spread the good news.
Regarding pressure in leadership (I am the director of a non-profit), it is helpful for me to remember that I am in charge of the effort and God is in charge of the outcome.
-JC in Wilmington NC