Word for the day: “Leadership and pain.”
II Corinthians 5:17(NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
BELOVED LEADERS,
I thought I would share today about pain and leadership. The notion that successful leadership is glorious and filled with power and success is a misnomer. Leadership and pain often go hand in hand, but don’t be discouraged. Pain with God serves some amazing purposes for your life and the lives in your sphere of influence.
THE PAIN IN YOUR PROCESS CAN BE LEVERAGED FOR YOUR GOOD.
To be human is to know what it feels like to be hurt: have a broken heart, have seasons of small hope, disappointment, and loss of trust. But when you discover that these hurts aren’t going to kill you, you find out, as I have in life, how much strength the Lord has invested in you. The key, however, is knowing how to rise from the hurt in your life process.
Once you realize that your life is in a process and that God is with you every step of the way, you can face the pain of your past, move beyond it, and be healed. Also, consider this: You are in the present time of your life, not your past. You lived through reality, whatever and whenever it was, so you can certainly live through the feelings and memories of reality today.
The truth, as the word says, will set you free (John 8:32-36). After all, we don’t want to continue having the same negative response, and this is what helps us grow beyond it.
BE SURE TO ALLOW YOUR PROCESS TO LEAD YOU TO THE LORD.
Make your one desire to be made whole and as much like Christ as possible. When you do, God will give you the desire and courage to carry the message of hope and healing to those who are stuck in their pain. Don’t miss this point. It’s your story, but it can be used to help others.
Embrace the pain of the recovery and healing process. It will remind you that God is in control and you’re being held in the Lord’s safety, with the assurance the Lord walks you through it. It means you’ll take some steps of faith, which will be pleasing to God who will then usher you into whole healing in your entire life.
WHEN GOD IS ALLOWED IN YOUR PROCESS, YOU WILL FIND SELF-DISCOVERY BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION.
It takes time to know what you need. Such a discovery of ourselves is a journey that often cannot fully be revealed until we are alone. Making decisions and mistakes and seeing the world without the lens of the community and culture we were raised in. This does not mean our communities or parents were wrong; that is not what I am saying.
But we can grasp an unfiltered appreciation for what the world is and what we truly appreciate about life without being told. And this speaks volumes about our personal development. Experience, first-hand experience is invaluable; when you give this priceless gift to yourself, you become better acquainted with yourself. I truly believe people of God when we discover God in our lives, we discover ourselves like no other time (II Corinthians 5:17-19).
POINT TO PONDER
One of the greatest gifts I have discovered as I choose to grow and learn and step more fully into the role of being a mature person. Remember being mature is a decision you evolve into and has nothing to do with your chronological age. It really takes courage to grow and mature into the person God purposed you to become.
Have you experienced the pain in your life having a purpose?
Do you realize the value of being a student of life?
Are you in a time of self-discovery?
Where does God fit in your life?
Life at times does not make sense, do you trust your process?
Where would you rate today’s message in your life right now on a scale of 1-5?
Special thanks!
Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in August 2024, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. David and Annette Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Michelle Winder Branch, Ms. Brenda Spoach, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mr. William Jones, Mr. William Buchanan, Mr. William Wilson, Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,