It has been said that people will not follow a leader who is not confident.  As pastors, we have the advantage of leading people with a confidence that is not rooted in ourselves or a great business plan, but in God himself!

I wish I could say that I have always led with an unshakable confidence in God and His purpose for our church.  The reality is that I struggle with doubt just like many other pastors do. In times of doubt I find great encouragement in the “least preached” portion of The Great Commission.”  Can you find the portion I’m referring to below?

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:16-28

It’s that phrase in verse 17 where I too-often see myself: “they worshiped him; but some doubted.”  I know God has called me; I know God wants to reach my community; I even know He has given me “All authority in heaven and on earth,” and yet I still find myself in the “some doubted” group.  And then I remember that the “some doubted” group was a part of the eleven men that were accused of “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

So what should a doubting leader do?  I find two things in particular have been of help to me when I am struggling with doubt:

1) I make sure that I am taking enough time “away” from the business of ministry to be sure that I am able to listen to God when He is speaking.  I ask myself, “Am I in a position on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis to recognize when God is directing me?” The principles that we discuss in “Developing A One Year Personal Growth Plan” have been invaluable to me in this area.

2) I pray the prayer of the man in Matthew 9:24: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”  I find that nothing invigorates my confidence in God like admitting how deeply I need Him.

God will give faith to doubting pastors who come to Him in humility and ask for it. Why don’t you take a moment right now to pray, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.