By Aaron Shamp
Why did God call Gideon to be Israel’s deliverer? Obviously, the Midianites and Amalekites were oppressing Israel, and the people needed relief from their distress. But why did God call Gideon to fill that leadership role?
One of my favorite verses in the Old Testament is Judges 6:12, “Then the angel of the Lord appeared to [Gideon] and said, ‘The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.’” This verse is terrific because Gideon appears to be neither valiant nor a warrior! He is a farmhand for his father (not a warrior); moreover, he hides in a winepress to do his work (not quite valiant).
Yet, Gideon would become one of the most outstanding judges in Israel’s history. He was a mighty warrior, fearless leader, and effective deliverer. His story teaches a lesson that can encourage us and shape the course of our leadership.
The Goal of Your Leadership
Let’s ask the same question as above but applied to you: Why did God call you to fill your role? I have sat with many young leaders who feel intimidated by the new position they will be stepping into and ask themselves the same question. Alternatively, we sometimes ask a similar question when we are frustrated in a season of leadership. Obstacles, setbacks, and opposition make us question why God would allow these problems in the way of our work. Perhaps failures, disappointments, and confusion have made you ask why God called you into your current role.
It’s not a bad question to ask. What is God’s goal for your leadership role? We mistakenly assumed that God called us into a position for what he could accomplish through us. We accepted a pastorate, non-profit position, or volunteer role at church with ambitious goals to pursue.
However, this is not God’s primary goal for your leadership. His great ambition for your leadership is not what he intends to do through you but what he wants to do in you. Jeff Iorg wrote in The Character of Leadership, “Leadership roles… are God’s laboratories for leaders. God places us where we are (or may call us to a new place) so he can have the perfect laboratory for continuing to change us into the image of Jesus.”
The angel of the Lord addressed Gideon as “valiant warrior” when he wasn’t one… yet. Through the calling to leadership, he transformed Gideon into the person that he desired him to be. Similarly, David was called and anointed as king of Israel at a young age, but God shaped him in the pastures, battlefields, and wilderness to have the character of a king.
Micro-Shift for Your Leadership
We know the importance of character for leadership. When we build leadership pipelines, the core competency of “character” is always the number one consideration. Character for Christian leadership is non-negotiable.
The problem is that we tend to lose sight of God’s primary goal for our leadership. So, character development becomes something that I maintain to support my leadership. My “role” becomes primary and character secondary. Instead, we need to see our leadership supporting our growth in Christ. Character development is primary, and leadership roles are secondary.
I am proposing what Daniel Im calls a “micro-shift,” a small shift that leads to a macro-change. We need a change from seeing character development as a part of my leadership journey to seeing my leadership role as a part of my spiritual formation journey. We will be more attuned to God’s direction, encouraged to accept callings, and resilient against setbacks.
Steps to Apply the Shift
We can take practical steps to pursue and support this micro-shift. You need to start with that internal change in perspective. Receive it in prayer and Scripture. The key to applying this shift is to become more aware of God’s presence and leading in your life. Use these steps to grow in that spiritual discipline.
- Begin your day by re-centering your identity in Christ.
Steve Cuss wrote that ministry leaders tend to start seeing themselves only as conduits of God’s grace and forget that they are recipients of God’s grace. This first practice is a way to guard against that tendency. Every morning, pray before God, be aware of his loving presence, and be reminded that you are first and foremost his child by his grace. You are not primarily your leadership, family, or community roles. Your identity is securely centered in Christ, and every other responsibility in your life is an outflow from that identity.
You might be the kind of person who does your regular devotions in the evening. That’s okay. This time in prayer can be brief as long as it is focused. It will most likely be helped when paired with another habit like making breakfast, reading a Scripture, or listening to worship.
- End your day by examining your awareness of God.
Just as you began your day by refocusing your awareness on God’s presence and your identity in him, you should end your day by reflecting on how well you maintained that awareness throughout the day. In prayer with God, reflect on your day portion-by-portion and consider your awareness of God’s presence.
It is crucial that you don’t sit in judgment over yourself during this examination. You’re not trying to beat yourself for little mistakes. Of course, we might become conscious of sin, which should be brought before God. However, the main goal is to grow in our ability to be aware of God and follow his direction hour by hour.
- Use regular check-in questions.
Finally, I have found it helpful to have regular check-in questions that clarify what I have been experiencing and feeling. My friend Alan Briggs has a great set of weekly questions: Where am I thriving? Where am I struggling? What feels confusing right now? What is missing right now? These questions work as an excellent big-picture check-in with God. I’d suggest incorporating them into your weekly routine.
Aaron M. Shamp (MA, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founder and lead pastor of Redeemer City Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. He’s also a writer, speaker, and host of the podcast Filter: Biblical Clarity in a Confusing World. Aaron lives in Lafayette with his wife and two children. You can follow him at his website or on Instagram.
