In order to grow as a leader, you have to develop new muscles.  What got you here won’t get you there.  So, to overcome ever growing obstacles, you need new strategies.  So, what do you do when the burdens of life become too heavy to bear?  Good question, right?

As you lead, you’ll find there are some answers you just can’t find in a textbook.  In some cases, you won’t even find them through a multitude of wise counselors.  Are you with me?  Don’t get discouraged.

For example, imagine Moses.  Have you ever looked at or thought about the challenges he faced in Egypt, let alone leading millions of people in the wilderness for 40 years?  What do you do when the enemy is closing in and Red Sea is in the way?  While his challenges and heartaches were many, his mode of survival was not.  He prayed.  Let me say that again.  Whenever Moses faced an insurmountable obstacle, he talked with God about it and God worked in miraculous ways.  In fact, the bible says Moses cried out to the LORD (Exodus 15:23-25, Exodus 17:3-4, Exodus 32:11, Numbers 11:2, Numbers 12:13).

So how do you respond when people criticize you?  Your leadership?  Your family?  Do you ask God to intervene or try to solve the problem yourself without praying?

Lets face it, life can be hard!  In fact, so tough that sometimes we can’t even put our burdens into words.  But God knows our hearts.  Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

However, somewhere along the way we’ve associated prayer with words.  We’ve also made prayer sound easy.  Words aren’t bad things, but they’re also not necessary when talking with God.  And prayer isn’t easy.  After all, sometimes we can only sob and cry, but tears are a universal language all men understand, and a language God speaks fluently!

Chances are you’re trying to figure out your next move, right now.  But there’s also a good chance it doesn’t have to be figured out today.  For now, be good with taking it to your Heavenly Father.  Then leave it there….that’s the hard part.

You may even be surprised to remember He doesn’t need advice on ways to resolve the issue.  Chances are the answer he has is going to be beyond your wildest calculations and guesstimates.  Either way, he promises it’s all going to work out for good (Romans 8:28).  He’s good at that.  He’s been answering prayers for a long time.  Just remember, there are three answers to prayer: yes, no, and grow!

In the meantime, some things will always be a mystery; and some tensions never go away, we just learn to accept and manage them.

However, some things can change, but not through your own power.  In times like these, if you’ll pray, your great Heavenly Father may just reveal his power and love for you.