Leading through the hardest moments: lessons from the cross
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As Christians in the lent season, we have many opportunities to reflect more deeply upon Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. One aspect I often find myself drawn to is the raw emotion of Christ's words upon the cross as he echoes the psalmist—"My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46; Ps. 22:1).
While on the cross, Christ suffered not just physical pain, but He also endured spiritual pain as He took upon Himself the curse of sin that separated us from God the Father.
There are elements of that moment that we can't even begin to understand. The full nature of that relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit is one that likely exceeds what our finite minds can fully comprehend. With limited understanding of the true nature of the Trinity, it's impossible for us appreciate the enormity of that moment when God the Son took upon himself the sin of the world and felt the fullness of God the Father's wrath toward sin.
Although there are elements of that moment we can't fully understand, there are other elements that each and every one of us likely identify with greatly. Every single person on the planet has experienced those moments and seasons in which it felt like God was distant and removed from our realities.
Yet as we reflect upon the agony of that moment on the cross, we also know it points us toward the incredible love Christ demonstrates to us. He willingly took up the cross fully knowing the torment it would involve. I can't help but recall the old adage—"Something is worth what you're willing to pay for it." The incredible price Christ paid for us is evidence of an incredible love He has for us.
While I often focus on the agony of that moment or even the love expressed in that moment, I only recently recognized what perhaps may be a more obvious truth that Christ was modeling for us.
In His moment of greatest suffering, Christ focused His mind on Scripture!
In that moment of agony, as Jesus quoted the psalmist, Scripture was relevant and had something to say about His circumstances and even the emotions He was experiencing. In fact, He didn't just think about Scripture, He verbally spoke it.
As He hung upon the cross, every breath required to speak was a struggle, and Christ used some of those last labored breaths to speak Scripture.
In my work with Open Doors, I've seen the same from brothers and sisters around the globe who are being persecuted because of their faith. They will cling to and recite the truth of Scripture even in places like North Korea where you can end up being sent to prison for the rest of your life simply for having a Bible in your possession. Like Jesus, these believers recognize the importance and truth of Scripture.
As leaders, it is important for us to do the same.
As leaders, we hear all the time how leadership can be lonely. In the midst of those moments, Scripture reminds us "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" (Ps. 145:18).
As leaders, we can feel the uncertainty of the times or circumstances we need to navigate. In those moments, Scripture reminds us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" (Prov. 3:5-6).
As leaders, we can feel the weight of competing decisions. In those moments, Scripture reminds us "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5).
As Jesus modeled for us, in our most difficult of circumstances Scripture contains relevant truth that is important for us to reflect upon and to even speak verbally.
However, Jesus also modeled another important truth. In Mark 1:35 it reads "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
While some of us non-morning people would argue that getting up in the early morning hours is a very difficult circumstance, I doubt that even the laziest of us would be so foolish as to equate it to the realities of the cross.
While Jesus got up early, I don't think the time of day is the key idea of the passage (Hallelujah!). What is important is that Jesus demonstrates the truth that by spending time in prayer and meditating upon the truth of Scripture in the less difficult moments, it creates a well of Scriptural truth we can draw upon in the most difficult of moments.
As leaders, let's remember that the God who loves us and has pursued us greatly is speaking to us through His word and guiding us in even the most challenging seasons of leadership.
 | Ryan Brown serves Open Doors US as Chief Executive Officer. Learn More » |
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