No one advertises this, but leadership is a call to come under assault. God will use our enemies to uncover our idols. He will use foes to build our faith. We will learn to be kind to our enemies( Luke 6:35). It’ s hard to discern this wonder in the middle of the pain, but it’ s happening. God is going to use your enemies to enlarge your soul. Open the mental file of your experience, put it on the screen. Now let’ s slide on the glasses of Psalm 56 and allow God’ s grace to focus what we see. God is composing a song to reveal a wonder in his plan...
STANZA ONE: TELL GOD HOW YOU FEEL
Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.( Psalm 56:1 – 2 ESV)
There was no“ trampled-training” in seminary. It wasn’ t in any ministry job description. When we aspired to preach and serve God’ s people, we never dreamed our ministry, decisions, character, or family might become objects for soiled boots to trample. Ministry, we believed, is about bringing new life— conversions, change, church planting, good fruit, reconciliation, and new beginnings.
But“ trampling”? No one said anything about trampling!
Sure, some opposition is no surprise. We studied the Gospels, the Corinthian corpus, the Judaizers, the Pharisees, Demas, and Alexander. We knew light could go dark, the world can take aim, we will be hated. Some opposition does not surprise us.
It’ s the duration. The unrelenting, faith-sapping, indefatigable, merciless,“ all-day-longness” of the attack.“ All day long an attacker oppresses me.”“ My enemies trample on me all day long.” Ever felt that way? Not long ago I sought to hire a subcontractor. Word came back that he would not work with me. Slander from the past still lingered in the present. I thought the corner had been turned. But my life was still under his judgment.
This incessant trampling is no light bruising of the reed. It’ s more like reed-slaughter, aggravated reed-assault, reed-on-lifesupport. And maybe for you, it’ s not over. You’ re beginning to feel like your enemy’ s energy to destroy is more potent than your will to stand.
You’ re tired, and you’ re scared.
What becomes of a leader in the hands of prosecutors who operate with no mercy, no rules, no Bible? Where do we turn at such times? David prayed and told God exactly how he was feeling. And that’ s a good place to start. Perhaps this prayer of mine expresses some of what you are experiencing:
Be gracious to me, O God. For I am suffering in ways unexpected and with a weariness that
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