Every time I start digging to research where a problem originates I can almost guarantee that I will end up at the same destination as my previous searches. I know the pattern is there but I find myself consistently refusing to accept and deal with the facts, summarized as the following.
The problems we first see are only symptoms of something deeper. Responding to and even resolving the symptoms only enables the core problem to grow and strengthen. Searching for the underlying cause or driver is crucial however most people do not really want to know the answer. It is easier to keep things superficial because the fixes are rarely at one’s personal doorstep. However, almost every search will lead one to the fact that the core of the problem is leadership. In personal situations this is our true heart – the one that makes decisions when no one is looking on or pushing our emotional controls.
“Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.” (Proverbs 25.4, 5)
The harsh reality is that you and I are powerless to fully and completely remove the impurities in our lives. One can try but my experience only affirms that it is an effort that is bound for failure. The next step is critical. Can we take the step in admitting that there are impurities that need to be dealt with, we carry these in our hearts, minds, and souls, and that letting God get on with things is actually a sign of growth, not weakness?
When one sees rotten leadership there are several ways of dealing with it. Admittedly not all solutions are right in all circumstances – however one can expose, confront, or in extreme circumstances choose not to work for these individuals. The bigger challenge is on your doorstep and mine.
God offers us two things. A wonderful definition of self-worth because of the value He places on who we are. And, the willingness to restore us from the inside out!
