Even Leaders Need Encouragement
Even those you think are strong have moments of weakness. Even those you think of as leaders need encouragement. And they especially need your prayers, because the ENEMY would love nothing other than to destroy any good fruit that is in their life.
To discourage them and bring them down.
I don’t know how many of you know one particular part of my story. I haven’t written about it, but those who knew me well 9 years ago, know that on this day nine years ago I found a tumor on the side of my face near my ear. I found it just 5 & a half weeks after my second daughter’s birth. The Lord walked me through that ‘journey.’ And He walks with me even now through this one. Because just a few weeks ago I found another tumor exactly like the other but in a different location.
I was fortunate that the first tumor, which grew from the size of a small marble to a little larger than a golf ball in 6 months, was benign. Although we didn’t know if it was completely benign or not until after the extraction, we waited and God gave us His peace. Even with the statistics against me, 75 % partial facial paralysis, God’s peace washed over me. I can honestly say, that yes there were really hard nights… but they were far and in between. For the most part, God gave me a supernatural peace… one that only comes from Him. For those that knew me closely, they walked through this time with me as faithful friends would.
Why do I share this?
Because tomorrow I go in for an MRI. I wish I could say I have had the same peace I did then, but the truth is that it comes and goes. Sometimes my thoughts get away from me and I think… what if? And then I cling to the scriptures I have memorized. I preach to myself: Take every thought captive in the name of Christ. I play the worship songs through my mind over and over.
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
I pray. I cry out to God. I yell at myself. It’s just a bump. You could always just cut off your foot, I say to myself.
Why do I share this with you?
To show you how even those you may think are strong… are real people too.
I know in my head and can preach to myself to Trust int he Lord and in His mighty power. I know in my head the verses, the songs… but this… This valley is something He wants me to walk through. No matter how small.
It’s not that I love my life. I am grateful, thankful and blessed… yes. I have much to LIVE for. But I desire my Lord more. I do. What fills my heart with emotions that well up inside me is the thought of all I wouldn’t get to give to those I love most…if.
And to be able to participate even more, in the adventure of the Great Commission. It is that, I live for.
These kinds of life realities simply make you think again… about the frailty of life. They make you question if you have done enough, lived your purpose, and on and on.
You think of verses like James 4:13-14
Come now, you who says,“Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
Then, I remind myself… of His GRACE.
His grace is sufficient. His grace has brought me to this place… the place of the unknown again. His grace and mercy carried me through this once… surely. His grace has carried me while with child… through tough storms in the past… surely. And I come to the conclusion that yes… of course… He is trustworthy. Was their ever a doubt?
No, I wouldn’t ever doubt it. But doesn’t our fear admit it?
I digress… I am human. Weak at times… just like we all are.
And I invite Him again. To Be my strength. My All in All.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10, ESV
It is good. It is good we have these bumps’ in the road of life.
It’s these bumps that hold us accountable to reality.
It’s these bumps that DRIVE us to LIVE LIFE ABUNDANTLY and ASK HARD QUESTIONS.
It’s these bumps I am grateful to God for allowing me to live through and struggle through because these are the journeys that carve into my mind, heart and soul what is so important.
These bumps are a constant reminder to pick my battles. It’s these bumps that teach this thick headed woman not to do the dishes and get on the floor and cuddle up for a game of monopoly…again. It’s these bumps that whisper, don’t always delegate the chores or the washing of the littlest teeth… serve. It’s these moments that inspire me to write and share with you and really with my children.
It’s what helps bring clarity to me on what legacy I am leaving.
These bumps are good.
