“Your inbox will be full the day you leave. Trust the work to be done by someone else.”

That advice was a sure reminder for me that ministry and life continue whether I was here to accomplish it or not. The work of ministry never ends! Ministry is a relentless partner. Certainly, Wheatland taught me that ministry has no regard for my time or schedules or desire or anything else I wanted to do. It is up to us to discern our priorities and to live with the consequences of making choices. Often my choices up to this point included doing something for church instead of myself or my family. Truthfully, I was disappointed to leave because my identity was so wrapped up in being a pastor here. There is so much good ministry still going on and so much ministry on the horizon! I felt my heart sink. Disappointed—that is what I felt.

Then I remembered something John Ortberg taught us about leadership. We all read a book by Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky.* Imagine eight to ten of us sitting in a small circle talking about leadership. The book was a new way to consider leadership and challenged us to our core but John mentioned this statement that made no sense to me at the time. But, now….it means the world to me. I truly believe there is something great waiting just beyond the edge of my disappointment.

Leadership is disappointing people at a rate they can stand.

Consider how achieving a high level of technical competence pleases people. “You are so good at what you do!” There is almost an instant reward and we all like to be rewarded. Here are some examples: in corporations when we hit our quarterly sales numbers, at church when we teach a really good Bible Study, when we sing a great solo, run a really great program, or hit a home run and people cheer. Most of us who have been asked to consider leadership have big cheering sections. We played in big and little leagues. We are used to applause, affirmation and the feeling of success. But the minute the call to leadership is accepted, you have to expect that most of the cheering will stop. However, the desire to please people doesn’t ever relent. It is part of our nature. The big question for a leader is whether or not you have the heart to deal with disappointing people.

I suppose we can get all noble and remind each other that Christian leadership is about pleasing the Lord. Which is absolutely true! So, what is pleasing to the Lord? Most people want their own way and have a difficult time discerning the Lord's will for their own lives while trying to live through the mud of actually living day to day with Jesus as Lord. Leaders are not exempt from the temptations of this world—nor thinking they know the will of the Lord. Jesus’ own disciples and enemies all believed they knew and understood who Jesus was and what his role was going to be. They were all wrong. How disappointing. Think of how many times Jesus disappointed others. Jesus had a much bigger vision and he would leave something behind that would catapult them into a new and different life—one they could never have expected nor chosen for themselves. Only God knew what was next. God was in it all.

NEXT

I wanted to come up with some savvy way of embracing what is next for me and for Wheatland. Here is my feeble attempt: N is for new. We will all need to adjust our expectations in order to embrace what God intends when he introduces us to new. Don’t go backward. There is a temptation to lean on what was technically successful BEFORE. Don’t go back there. All things are new—God makes all things new. Be open to something you never anticipated. E is for experience. We will all experience God’s newness by surrendering and actually doing the hard work of moving forward—disappointing ourselves and others as we go along. Feel the disappointment, pivot, adapt and move on. Experience is a great teacher and is meant to be combined with wisdom—a truly wise person learns from other people’s mistakes and successes. X is for “X marks the spot.” Your spot. It’s already reserved by Jesus and he will show you what to do. Show up. Don’t over think. Don’t bring your own agenda—or you will be disappointed. T is for transformational. Yes, that is what God is calling forward to achieve. Transformational ministry that is not dependent on our technical skills but on how the Holy Spirit will lead, guide and direct us as we move out further forward. Remember that we work for his glory and never for our own.

Thank you, Wheatland. I am grateful for the eight years I served here. I learned so much. I am excited about what is NEXT. God doesn’t do things ‘willy-nilly’ or without purpose. I fully expect this next season to be lit with a holy fire we cannot contain. May the Holy Spirit fill you with a sense of anticipation for what is NEXT. May He kindle the fires of your call. Remember that His calling is irrevocable and that He works all things to achieve His good and perfect will. I have loved you all with an everlasting love—in this life and in the life to come.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

Pastor Jen

*Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading. Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky.