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Know any complainers? What do you see? Look a little closer.
One way I have identified leaders to mentor is seeing people who complain about the right things. Potential leaders complain about legitimate problems. Complainers could be leaders who have not been properly guided to understand their identity as a leader and how to live that out.
Leaders see gaps. They see the gap between what is and what could be. And that gap can cause great frustration within a leader.
Do you see gaps? You may be a leader.
When you see gaps between what is and what could be, there are four possible responses.
1) You can complain about it. But those who criticize, condemn, and complain, those who blame, do not change a thing. Nothing will ever change by complaining about it.
There are a lot of people in our country who make a living by complaining, even religious leaders. The way people regurgitate and re-post these public complainers, they must think they are the people to follow and the best way to change something is to complain about it. All these public complainers are doing is making a living at getting you to sit on the couch and follow their complaining.
There are three healthier, more proactive solutions:
2) You can decide it is not your battle to fight. Most battles will not be your battle to fight. Everyone has a calling, a battle to fight. Deciding it is not your battle to fight will accomplish just as much as complaining about it, nothing, but you will be more at peace and will be able to focus more on what God has for you. And the people around you will be much happier you are not complaining so much.
3) You can decide it is not your battle to fight, but you have a role in helping those whose battle it is. You can be a support person for those who are in the battle. You can help.
4) You can decide it is your battle and you are all in. If it is your battle to fight, be proactive in developing solutions to close the gap. If you are all in, invest your time, talents, and resources as best you can to close the gap.
There are some battles that you do not get to choose. They are EVERYONE'S battle. The Bible says, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
It is everyone’s battle to act justly. To love mercy. To walk humbly with God. Note there is a difference between doing justice and seeking justice. Fighting a battle the right way does not include tearing down, but building up. The Father requires that we act justly (to do the right thing).
How do we do that? The Bible is our guide, but start with what Jesus said:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Maybe your battle is to help disciple (teach, mentor, guide) the complainers in your life to walk humbly with God and become leaders who close the gaps they see in the world.
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