By: Crysteena Douglas
I used to have this belief I had to do things perfectly. It wasn’t a conscious decision but an unconscious way of functioning. Deep in my subconscious mind was the idea that it had to be perfect to do something.
Revelation did not come until much later in life by the Holy Spirit. I did not know that a part of what kept me bound was an inflated view of perfection and that I had to achieve it. This understanding now facilitates my breakthrough from the hesitance that can come from needing to have all the answers upfront. If you’re waiting to know everything there is to know about a thing, you’re never going to do it.
Striving to Lead Perfectly
Perfectionism is insidious. It seems innocent enough. It may look like wanting everything to be always right and not showing grace to ourselves or others for our inevitable flaws and weaknesses. There is nothing wrong with wanting to put our best foot forward. Still, perfectionism is a snare that, once fallen into, has to be overcome with revelation and the acknowledgment that God never wanted us to be perfect outside of Him.
The perfect leader is not the leader who does things perfectly per se, but the leader who inspires us to become a better version of ourselves in whatever area they lead. Leaders are all over the place: in the church, in schools, in neighborhoods, in the community as civic leaders, and in the household leading their families. Everywhere you look, leaders are leading the best way they can. Sometimes, they don’t have all the tools because when God called them to lead, they just had to start where they were. There are some things we’ll learn along the way. Be gracious with your leaders, and that includes yourself.
Leaders are broken people who have been called to lead others to a destination. Leaders will stretch our capacity to be great, and relationships with them will try our hearts in ways that only they can. They possess a special gift to naturally draw out the good from the inside of us, which can come even through tough times and friction with your leader. That painful discomfort can still draw out the gold and anointing you carry. It may be the perfect prescription for its release.
You don’t have to be perfect to be a leader. Being a leader does, however, require a willingness to be bold and fearless. A love for God and people always helps. The leader who’s called to lead people may never lead them if they think they have to be perfect. As long as we exist on this side of eternity, there’ll be something we need to overcome, take authority over, and some items we’ll need to revisit to make sure we’re continuing to stand in dominion in those areas.
Broken Does Not Equate to an Incapable Leader
God wants to show off in you. Let Him break your heart, He knows how to mend it, rebuild it, and give you a new one to start. It’s the broken and contrite heart He will not despise, according to Psalms. A broken heart can be the fallow ground needed to operate at a higher level of authority and leadership.
“Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.” Psalms 51:17 MSG
Has your heart been shattered? Mine has.
You might just be ready for leadership. Now God can do His thing in you, rebuilding from the brokenness of your heart so that He can give you His for His people. Then lead from that place. There is no perfect leader, but there is a Leader who is perfect to lead you, to guide you to the place that God has for you. Let’s shatter false ideas of perfection and let our God, who is perfect, shine in us more brightly than ever before. In this way, we obtain perfection in leadership through Him. To fearless leaders leading in faith, keep leading.
The Writer
Crysteena Douglas is an avid real estate investor building a team with Renatus. She empowers others to be financially independent while establishing a real estate business empire one step at a time.
Protecting and equipping the body of Christ is of utmost importance. She currently lives in Southern California.
Crysteena writes Christian Encouragement for the Inspire To Hope blog.
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