Loving Those You Lead

Are you a leader? You might not feel like one, but if you’re in a position where at least one person looks to you for guidance—you’re a leader.

Leading is natural for me. It’s not that I always know what to do, or that I am fearless and quick-thinking. On the contrary, I am disorganized and easily distracted. What? You don’t’ think that sounds like much of a leader? Well, I forgot to share one essential element needed for successful leadership—a heart.

Loving those you lead is something that can only be done with God’s help. Not even Beth Moore can love every single person she’s asked to oversee. As a women’s ministry leader, there were at least one or two incredibly grating personalities that always seemed to rub me the wrong way. 

When I wrote my first book, my husband reminded me, “Not everyone is going to love what you wrote.” Those were great words of wisdom for me. It helps to remember I can’t please everyone. And, just like my book, everyone I lead is not going to love me. But, here’s a few ways I’ve learned to love them anyway.

• Prayer. It’s the superglue of every leader. I couldn’t hold it together without it. When that very irritating someone would complain, or try to discourage, I’d put Ms. Annoying at the top of my prayer list. Nothing takes the sting out of an obnoxious personality than praying specifically for her. When I prepare to speak to a group of women, I begin by praying for them. Weeks before I ever see their faces, I ask God to give me a love for each one of them. It’s amazing how my heart melts as soon as I see them.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

• Perseverance. When I’m in the middle of a project, or leading a Bible study, there are moments of weakness when I start to believe maybe I’m not cut out for this. If this happens to you, see my first point (prayer) and stay the course. If God has given you an opportunity, He will equip you with what you need to get the job done.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

• Praise. This point can’t be stressed enough—encourage those around you. If you struggle with praise-worthy encouragement, see point one again! Ask God to show you something in every woman you lead, an area where you can encourage and thank them for their help. You’d be surprised how many women don’t hear God-honoring words of affirmation on a regular basis. Love them by telling them so! 

We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming. Hebrews 10:25

Joanne Kraft is a recovering too-busy mom and the author of Just Too Busy—Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. Joanne’s articles have been published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, In Touch, Thriving Family, ParentLife, Today’s Christian Woman, P31 Woman and more. She’s appeared on CBN News, Focus on the Family’s—Your Family Live, Sacramento & Co., and The Harvest Show.

In her spare time, she works on-call as a 911 dispatcher for the City of Folsom Police Department. She makes her home in the Sierra Nevada Foothills of Northern California with her husband Paul, their four children, and a beagle with a slight weight problem.

Stop by her website http://www.JoanneKraft.com

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