Lead Through It
I have watched people I admire lead in times of great personal pain or loss. It’s hard to imagine being in the spotlight in the middle of deep suffering. When I see great leaders, lead through deep sorrow, it reveals to me that there is great depth of character and faith below the surface. A tree that is super healthy has deep, healthy roots.
David’s men have just defeated the rebellious Absalom and thwarted the coup attempt. David is grieved deeply over the loss of his son. He seems to lose himself in the grief, even though he is the leader that people were giving their lives to save. Joab has a “prayer meeting” of sorts with him and counsels David to lead on. Check this out….
5 Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. 6 You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. 7 Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”
8 So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. (2 Samuel 19:5-8 NLT)
David was a loved King and leader. He had to “suck it up” and get out front and continue to lead from his walk with the Lord. It had to be hard when his insides were a mess, but he pulled it off. The people loved him. The people needed him to lead even though he was grieving.
Leaders need counsel.
Leaders need supportive people around them.
Leaders also lead from depth of character, or else their character will be exposed in difficult times.
Leaders figure out a way to lead in the midst of great personal pain or loss.
I’ve been most inspired by leaders who lead in the midst of personal struggle. When I’ve been through personal struggle or suffering, the Lord has taught me much about Himself and a bit about me. I’m learning to lean into Him when things are normal and when things are abnormal.
Pressing On!
Dwayne