Leadership is hard, especially when the service term is coming to an end and everyone is getting antsy to go home. Things get tough, tensions get high, and through these last few weeks I have been finding myself praying to God for three specific things in my leadership role: peace, patience, and understanding.
A few days ago I found myself walking away from an frustrating interaction I had with someone praying to God “Please give me peace, patience and understanding, peace, patience, and understanding…” over and over until my nerves had calmed. It wasn’t until I was done completing my mantra that I thought or He said, “Then be.” How simple. Two words.
Be peaceful.
Be patient.
Be understanding.
As I shoveled through the dirt and trash of the days work, I realized that God wasn’t going to grant me the prayers I am capable of answering for myself. Instead, He was going to present me opportunities in which I could practice my yearnings. He wasn’t going to give me what I wanted, but rather make me work to achieve it myself. He answers prayers in challenges and tests and through that, I am thankful.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13
