Leadership has its challenges. It requires you to think extra about people’s feelings, make up for others’ mistakes, and often graciously work through things with people in situations that feel futile. You have to be subjective about your feelings and wants, constantly placing them on the altar to ensure you’re making decisions that are best for your flock and not based on vain conceit and desires. God has placed great examples of leadership in my path who have joyfully shepherded me in this way, so all I had to do was follow in their footsteps. However, even if we don’t have tangible examples of this in our lives, we do have Christ, the perfect shepherd to look to. Jesus went as far as to lay his own life down for us. We will most likely not be called to such measures, but will be asked to put others before ourselves, considering the Lord’s will in every decision and action we take.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not Lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
1 Peter 5:2-4