Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Growing up, my friends and I used to play Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light and Mother May I. Each of these games required a leader that would command a set of instructions for the others to follow. Of course we all wanted to be the leader so we could boss the other kids around. (We obviously had a skewed understanding of what it means to be a leader.)
As adults, many aspire to be leaders; however, I’m not one of them. I have to be honest; I am a follower by nature. Leading is not something that comes naturally to me, and yet, over and over, God continues to place me into positions of leadership.
Why is that?
It’s actually become a little joke between me and God. I’ll enter into something thinking… thank goodness, I get to be a participant for a while. But then it happens. The leader has to step down or there’s no one else to lead, and I find myself right back into the leadership role.
I have come to learn that much of my discomfort in being a leader is due to the fact that I am insecure in my abilities.
I may be a slow learner, but I’ve finally figured this one out. Working outside of my abilities is a great place to be. I get to see God at work and learn things about myself that may have never been realized if I had stuck to playing it safe.
Bottom line… when we move beyond our comfort zone we grow.
God seldom uses people in the ways that they feel comfortable. He’s all about taking us out of our comfort zone, When we step out of our element, we must rely on His strength, His wisdom, His ways, and His power.
Do you see a common theme here? When we work in our own strength, we get the glory. When we work in God’s strength, He gets the glory. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to point to Him.
I have an ongoing prayer that goes something like this… Lord, may it be all of you and none of me.
“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)
Although we may not understand what God is doing, we can trust His higher ways and know that He has our best interests at heart. God sees the big picture but we only see a small part.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Has God been taking you out of your comfort zone lately?
Trust His higher ways!
Dear Lord, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10)
