When Doubt Creeps In

I don’t know what happened to me in the past few weeks, but its been really discouraging. Students and parents upset about the strangest and most inconsequential things, leaders struggling with life and their relationship with God. It just seems like when it rains it pours and in the midst of the rain, the enemy can stick his foot into the door and make it really hard to close. There is that moment where I am sure many of us have been, where doubt creeps in. Doubt that you are capable of leading, doubt that your decisions are the right choices and doubt that you are where God is calling you to be.

This time of uncertainty is filled with an overwhelming sense of spinning your wheels. Questioning things you have said, done or decisions you have made as well, it can become debilitating, to the point where you can’t seem to get anything done. That is where I was at for a few weeks, being held back by doubt, and feelings of inferiority and a general lack of vision.

Here are a few things God is teaching me and I think you need to know in times like this:

The right decision is not always the popular one: Leading by consensus is ineffective (and can make you popular for a season), but leading by vision will make you unpopular sometimes. Trust the direction God is showing you, He has bigger and better plans for the ministry than people know. Stand by the call you made, explain where necessary but you needn’t apologize for making the right call on something.

You represent a large group: Parents may be upset that you are not catering to their child, but the reality is that you are making decisions for the group as a whole, and when parents are upset with you, its often because things didn’t go their way or their child’s way. Giving in to that sets a dangerous precedent, but preferential treatment will breed unhealthy expectations.

Love them all, Trust a few: Be really mindful of whom you confide in, make sure that the people you bounce ideas, situations and issues with are people who have the best interests of you and the ministry in mind and are people of integrity. These people are harder to find, and in the Church context people will befriend you to know what’s going on behind the scenes.

You are Called!: This is number one, remembering that you are called to be where you are. You are the God appointed person for that ministry and those students and leaders are entrusted to you. The enemy will try and convince you that you are wrong, but it is the place you need to be. I have been praying that God would give me the strength kick the foot of doubt out of my door and regain the passion and vision that comes from leading and He is doing that. You are called to Lead, students, volunteers and parents, Lead with the confidence that it is God who placed you there, and equipped you for the battles.

I pray that none of you ever end up in a place where you question your leadership, but if you do, I pray that God gives you the strength to endure.