Where is Our Fearless Leader?

If you’re in a leadership role these days, chances are you’ve been criticized. People say some nasty things on social media, in the “comments” section of ANYTHING… and sometimes even to your face.

Leadership is hard. And leaders have feelings. No matter how much confidence we project, we get scared too… often because we feel deeply responsible for those whom we are called to lead.

So whether it’s been said to you out loud or not, chances are you’ve FELT people say, “Where is our fearless leader?”

The only fearless leader I know grew up in a small town. He was often the subject of criticism, especially by religious leaders. He was HUGELY popular with those everyone else had dismissed and discarded. He died far too young, gruesomely and publicly executed, as the A-Team theme song says, “for a crime he didn’t commit.”

In other words, by the world’s standards, a loser.

His name is Jesus… and he’s truly the only fearless leader I’ve ever met.

And even Jesus, EVEN JESUS, wanted to see if there was a way out of what his Father had sent him to do (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42).

In his time of trial, EVEN JESUS was looking for a way out.

So if EVEN JESUS didn’t want to, I think we can cut ourselves a little slack about being a little-less-than-fearless leaders.

So where IS our fearless leader?

On a cross, dying for the world he so deeply loves.

And on his way to Galilee, his post-resurrection meet up place for scared disciples.

And appearing in upper rooms with locked doors because of fear, showing more scared disciples his wounds.

And on a dusty road to another small town, talking with some clueless companions about all these things that had taken place.

There he is.