The Challenges of Leadership 

The life and work of a mentor, coach or professional supervisor, really any career in Christian leadership, comes with many different seasons. There will be beautiful warm springs full of hope and productivity, and long hot stretches of summer full of life and passion for the calling. However, there will also be chilly autumns full of uncertainty and doubts. As well as cold and harsh winters that may give in to depression, stress and burnout. Of course, the seasons of a Christian leader’s life rarely line up with the annual changes of weather, but the awareness of the good times following the bad, the difficult seasons following a happy and hopeful one, is an ongoing pattern. This is a truth that all leaders need to accept and anticipate. 

The Weight a Leader Carries

There are many people with the ambition of finding their path towards leadership in their community, but it is impossible for anyone to fully understand the difficulties ahead before they experience these challenges for themselves. I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but if someone is seeking an easy job that’s free of struggles, this is not the road they should take. A leader is responsible for the well-being of their team, the community and themselves. This carries a lot of weight; there are endless decisions to make, some with very high stakes. There are people who are suffering and lost who need compassion and wisdom, which can drain a person emotionally. There are spiritual battles, financial restrictions and inter-personal conflict to mediate. They must balance their personal and professional life, and their own mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. All these pressures can take even the strongest leaders to dark places. 

The Difficult Path

The Bible shows us again and again just how difficult the path of a leader can be… Paul is a great example of a leader going through seasons. In Acts 9, Paul began to sense God’s call on his life and began preaching. God’s gift was evident in his life, but chaos followed: attempted murder (a few times), escape in a basket, dealing with the mistrust with other leaders and sent to Tarshish for his own protection. It was a difficult sequence of seasons for Paul. However, after these struggles, Paul joined Barnabus on his mission trip and experienced a rewarding season, where his work was praised and his efforts were blessed by God. 

This is the good news; our difficult season will shape us into better leaders. In fact, we need these hardships. They will deepen our understanding of the world, ourselves and others. They make us wiser, stronger and more empathetic. Paul needed to experience these trials to grow into a more mature leader, so he could make the changes in the world that God wanted him to make. Likewise, we can embrace our struggles as a way to transform into the best version of ourselves. 

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) 

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The life of a Christian leader is one of joys and sorrows. It can be painful and uncertain, but will reward those who stay true to their calling, through witnessing God’s grace and love to the people around them. With the support of God, mentors and the community, a leader can push through the hardships with hope and trust that a brighter season is around the corner. 

Reflection question: how have my difficult times prepared me for helping others. 

What difficulties I have been through that still need unpacking? 

What’s next? Have a confidential conversation with a mentor? Can we help you? https://vervelead.com/contact/