“Why are you always so bossy?”
I remember exactly what we were working on in middle school science class when someone asked me that question. I immediately shut down and no longer participated in class that day. I had never wanted to be seen as bossy. I just wanted to get our group project done in an organized way.
As a woman, it took me quite a long time to rephrase “you are bossy” to “you are leading,” but ultimately that is what I did. Now we all realize there are good leaders and bad leaders, and maybe middle school Becca wasn’t being the greatest leader that day, but the point is that I was trying to lead. I just had to learn how to lead well.
I don’t know your story. Maybe you have stepped into leadership before and didn’t have the best experience. Maybe you were told that women are not supposed to have any type of leadership in the church and that has kept you from pursuing anything. Maybe you just don’t know what “leadership” role you are meant to take on.
Wherever you are today, let me tell you something I know for certain: you are made to lead.
You may be thinking of a million excuses as to why you should NOT be a leader. Take a moment and think of the people in the Bible that the Lord called to leadership. Most of them were just like us. If God calls them to leadership, why not you as well?
Let’s take a moment and look at the definition of a leader: “someone who guides other people”. As Christ-followers, we all have the chance and responsibility to guide others. We can guide our children onto the right path, lead a group of friends in a small group or book club, encourage coworkers to make positive choices, be on a leadership team or even be the leader of a ministry. In any stage of life, you can lead in some way.
If you are thinking, “Okay Becca, you’ve got me fired up about leading, now what?”
Here are a few tips to help you find where and how you can lead.
Look to your talents.
Are you artistic? Musical? Do you love to talk to people? Are you organized? Any skill that you have can be used for God’s glory!
Look to your passions.
What fires you up? Are you passionate about family, kids, young women, teenagers, those in poverty or with disabilities? Find a ministry or program that fuels your passion for that specific group. If you can’t find one that seems like a good fit, maybe you need to step out in faith and create one.
Find a need.
Maybe after looking at your talents and passions, you are still not sure where to start. Start where there is a need. Serve where you’re currently involved. Ask a staff member at your church what the greatest needs are currently and start there.
Learn from those around you and above you.
You can learn so much about leadership by looking to those who have done it well or are currently doing it well. Learn from women leaders in the Bible. Learn from your mentor or the woman who works in the ministry you’d like to serve in. Ask questions. Study and listen.
Pray.
Of course, wherever the Lord is leading you, pray about it! Ask him for guidance, opportunities, and even leaders in your own life to help pour into you as you learn to lead well.
Trust in the Lord’s timing.
Sometimes the Lord puts a passion in your heart that you may not be able to pursue right now. Remember that there are still ways to serve the Lord and grow in leadership even if you are not leading in the exact place you dream of leading in one day. Be faithful where He has you now and trust that the Lord is doing a work in you as you wait.
Remember that being in leadership does not always look like being the top person in charge or creating a new ministry. In fact, often times in Jesus’ life we see that His leadership looked like serving others and lowering his “status” to do so. It’s not about us, it is about God’s glory being revealed and people brought closer to Him through our actions.
Wherever God has you leading now, lead well.
Meet the author!
Becca Walker is a 2nd grade teacher in Edmond, Oklahoma. Her passion for kids mainly comes from the fact that she herself is still just a kid at heart. She and her husband, Brennan, love to serve in the church in many ways. Whether it is children’s ministry, youth, worship, or leading a young adult small group, they love it all! Becca’s main loves are her family, her pups Wrigley and Rizzo, her Savior, Old Navy, and of course, the incredible community at Council Road Baptist Church.