College was challenging for me. I had a double major—theology and Christian education of children. I wanted to become a missionary.
But I faced two problems in completing my training in Christian education: I needed to take a job for a year as a director of children’s ministries in a Southern California church, and I needed transportation to get there. I had no car.
There was a lot of competition for those directorship jobs because my classmates also had to apply locally for the positions. I was only five-foot-two and looked tiny next to many in my class and I was shy. One six-foot-four classmate sneered at me saying, “I would never follow you as a leader!”
At the time, his words sank my aspirations toward ministry leadership. I gave up.
God’s Plan for Me to Lead
But God intended me to be a leader! He took me through a very difficult battle once where I had to lead a huge campaign to save my husband Tim’s life. The battle became national and resulted in a new law to protect people. It was later broadcast on ABC’s 20/20 program. Through that battle, I learned about leadership that wins:
1. Pray Frequently and Trust God
I poured my heart out to God and trusted him to clear the road ahead of me. My request often took the form of just one word: “Help!” Prayer became my power source. Others prayed too. Those prayer warriors became my team.
2. Keep Emotions in Check
I didn’t cry around our young children. I kept them away from the battle as much as possible. In fact, it wasn’t until I wrote a book about this event many years later that my children learned all that happened (One Step Ahead of the Devil). My husband who was in the middle of the struggle, needed me to be strong for him. So I asked the Lord to help me hold it together emotionally and to keep me from crying or being upset around him, too.
3. Stay Focused on the Facts and Objectives
My opponents tried to legally overwhelm me by arguing that things changed as the battle progressed, therefore I needed to bow to their authority. I rejected that thought. I reminded my opponents of their original illegal premise of the battle and did not yield.
4. Communicate and Seek Help
I was honest about the struggle and asked for others’ help in specific ways. When God opened windows bringing help, I reached out and grasped the gift.
5. Document Everything
Having a record of the facts helped keep me grounded and prepared for any challenges that arose.
6. Forgive Your Opponent and Pray for Them
After the battle, forgive your opponent and pray for him, regardless of how you feel about him. It leaves the door open for God’s grace to reach his heart.
The Power of Commitment and Boldness
This quote by W. H. Murray, a Scottish author and mountain climber, helped me fight the battle and later to write about it. I taped these words above my desk: “This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!”
Sheri Schofield, award-winning author, lives in Wyoming. In addition to her books, she has written for Arise Daily devotions since its beginning. Check out her website at www.sherischofield.com.
