ReBuild: 10 Ways Worship And Leadership Can Restore Broken LivesSample

The words of Jesus in Matthew 11 give a solid picture of a leader who understands their purpose. Jesus wasn’t concerned with gaining his comfort from the perfect performance of his followers. He was focused on giving rest and comfort to those who needed it most. In the passage he quoted from Isaiah, there’s a specific job description for the leader the Jews looked for to lead them to salvation: he was a bringer of beauty to open hands full of ashes, a fountain of joy for those caught in sadness, a dresser of worshippers (not worriers). 

As leaders, we’re called to follow Jesus’s example by providing the space for our followers to receive comfort and joy instead of chaos and sadness. This means removing unnecessary pressure to perform or to meet a standard of stability, happiness, righteousness that many in brokenness can only dream to reach. To truly Rebuild the people who call us Pastor or Teacher or Mom or Dad, we first have to give them space to encounter God and let Him rebuild them, let Him give them comfort. 

Where have your expectations blocked you from being a bringer of comfort? Take time to ask Jesus to give you his heart for the people under your care who find themselves devastated. Find opportunities to foster comfort and bring transformation in the lives of those whose first need is to encounter beauty for ashes.