I felt stupid in the meeting because I didn't communicate well, at least not to my expectations. Sometimes it can be hard trying to keep so many people happy all of the time. Exhausting, even. In this case, my role required me to communicate well and drive a lot of change. Driving change is always stressful and when other people react badly, I often beat myself up. I feel like I'm not good enough.
How do leaders drive change with universal acceptance?
They don't. If you try to achieve universal acceptance, you'll always feel like a failure. That's the trap I fell into today.
How did Biblical leaders lead through change? Well, they struggled. Moses had one of the most difficult groups of people to lead.
10 Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. 11 And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? 12 Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? 13 Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”
Moses was basically saying, "God, everyone hates me and my stress levels are through the roof! I can't keep them happy! I feel like a failure! I need a vacation!"
But, God didn't give Moses specific steps to regain his popularity. He fed the people, as Moses asked, but he also did something interesting. He sent reinforcements to help Moses lead. God knows there's no winning with man's ever-changing opinions. Instead, He provided encouragement and help for Moses.
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle[a] to stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.
He strengthened Moses by giving him a trusted group of peers to help shoulder the burden. God tells His followers to go and "follow me". He does not tell them to wait for the consensus of a group's opinions. He asks us to lead where He commands us, not where our feelings take us. We are meant to go where the Holy Spirit leads us, not man's opinions. He will send people into our lives to help us through our journey, so we don't have to shoulder it alone.
There's no winning when trying to earn the world's approval. Man's opinions will lead you back and forth, circling around the same mountain over and over, with no resolution. But, the Holy Spirit always leads towards specific goals. God's love for us ensures we can trust the Holy Spirit to lead us in the right direction. His goals for us are set out of love. The world's goals are set out of ambition - out of a need to make a name for themselves.
So, consensus is never required to follow where God leads.
He loves you so very much.
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