No Great Life Has Ever been Lived without Pain

2 Samuel 11:16-26; Psalm 51:4,12-14

As 2009 comes to an end ... I look back over the year at its ups and down. With each new year comes NEW adventure, NEW love, NEW chapters and sometimes even NEW PAIN.

David's Survival of his affair with Bathsheba shows that great leaders can indeed transcend their mistakes. I believe survival is best achieved when openness, forgiveness of others, and a recognition that we are all in the process of maturing happens.

Openness

I feel that openness is an imperative quality in a God-serving life! Those who can live in openness best survive their mistakes.

What is So admirable about King David is that once he was discovered (Him and Bathsheba) David openly declared that he was not above reproach. How many times have we hid behind our mistakes? How many times have we failed to be open and not above reproach as leaders?

Forgiveness

Forgiving others is not just medicine you give them; forgiveness is the tonic you take yourself. If you do not drink deeply of the forgiveness you extend, your grudges will in time poison your soul and you will be crippled for further assignments of the Lord.

I read a quote by Eugene Habecker the other day and Loved it!

"A leader who has not learned to be a good forgiver will not be as effective as one who has. Leadership affords too many uncomfortable incidents, too many inaccurate accusations, and too little time to keep track of everyone who has "wronged you."

Communicate the Process

Like all the world around us ... we must communicate that we are IN PROCESS! Process people are much easier to forgive when they are caught in error than those who try to project that they are perfectly finished and full of wisdom. If you are leading and you struggle with ... just remember that the "The right to mature is bought with our humanity."

The Cover Up

The cover-up approach is totally ego-defensive if you really think about it! The truth is my friend ... People can accept weaknesses more readily than hypocrisy!

I believe as leaders Genuine confession begins in the free admission that, when we hurt others, we really hurt GOD! God loves everyone! So passionate is that love that our very injuries become the wound of God. So our unacknowledged wrongs against others leave great gaps in our relationship with our heavenly Father!

Covering up bad relationships indicates that a leader has not dealt with the heavenly dimensions of His or her problems! Cover-up wounds the process!

Cover-up is a face-saving device designed to protect our reputation. Those who resort to it opt for saving their image, usually at the price of losing their authenticity!

Friends, we must return to the source of all spiritual vitality- SURRENDER!!! Such surrender grows for the leader, as it does for the follower, out of the double taproot of Galatians 2:20. We must be crucified with Christ to live Meaningfully!

No one expects a flawed leader to lead flawlessly. But EVERYONE, even people whose lives are flawed, expect moral leadership!

David's Repentance was written in much pain (psalm 51:12). But what I have learned, is that pain is always a healer! When our brokenness is splinted with the pain of our confession, then the healing can begin.

My husband and I had a very strong word given over us about 2 months ago.

"Just like a broken bone ... sometimes they aren't always healing completely straight. So a Doctor has to come in and re-break the bone- with your permission, of course- and reset it! AGREE to this process! Know that the ultimate healing of God's children somehow sometimes will lay in the difficult process of brokenness! God is going to DO SOMETHING AMAZING!!

This was my prayer after hearing that word:

"Make me to hear joy and gladness," Cries David, "that the bones which you have broken may rejoice" (Ps. 51:8)

I encourage you to study the Bible as you study leadership. You will then stir morality into your leadership recipe. you will also find the Bible a wellspring of Quietude!

STAND AND LEAD. But never forget leaders, that we purchase the right to direct with the currency of our obedience. Therefore, Speak only after you have listened! Lead only as you follow. STAND only after you have sat quietly in His presence. Raise your chin and command, only after you have bowed you head and Obeyed!

Blessings,

Sarah Holsapple