OUTCRY: For Church LeadersSample

Remember to Be Yourself

These days you can basically attend churches from all over the internet. As a church leader, you probably look at what other churches do to get some inspiration. And you should! Getting out of our bubble to see what other churches are doing can be very healthy, and creatively stimulating.

But, as with anything else, too much of a good thing can begin to have diminishing returns. 

As a leader you can begin to compare yourself to what you see—which is only the good stuff—in other churches. You begin to feel an unrealistic expectation to be someone you aren’t. 

And to make matters worse, the people you lead have access to other churches and they can begin to add to your unrealistic expectation. If you are a lead pastor, you begin to trickle that pressure down to those you lead. Instead of pulling out the gold and developing those you lead, you begin to yearn for them to be someone they aren’t. 

And this cycle is exhausting.

Unrealistic expectations lead to churches where the people aren’t committed and leaders are worn out and insecure.

But God has created only one of you. You are divinely unique. You may not be a powerhouse speaker or have amazing social media skills, but you fill a gap in the kingdom nobody else can. 

In the Psalms, David talks about how well God knows you. How he purposefully knit you into the person you are. As you read today’s passage, rest in how God made you. Let go of the pressure to be someone else and rest in the true you God wants to pull out. Being yourself will take a lifetime of practice.