Stepping Back + Stepping Up: A Leadership Devotional
“I just wish I could keep doing this,” I whispered to myself as the wheels of my minivan crunched to a stop in the parking lot outside my church. I felt torn, but the Holy Spirit and the flashing red light of my body told me it was time to move on from my leadership position and today was the day I was going to tell our team I was stepping back.
I knew God was releasing me–but me surrendering my grip on the role was more emotional than I expected.
It’s not easy letting go of things we love. Fear, scarcity mindset, and pride tell us no one else can do it like we can. We feel like we’re letting people down.
And yet, we feel the Spirit’s soft voice telling us our time in this role is completed. So we bravely release.
Leadership Transitions in Scripture
We’re not the only ones to experience this. In the book of Numbers, Moses knows he’s about to die and asks God to appoint a new leader for Israel. Without clear direction and leadership he’s certain Israel will struggle and perhaps even fail again to enter the promised land.
“May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them back in, so that the LORD’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.” -Numbers 27:16-18 (CSB)
A smooth transition of leadership is a gift to your whole community. Leaders go first while also making sure no one gets left behind; this type of faithful shepherding is hard to replace. Selecting leadership is not a decision to be made lightly or without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In the situation with Israel God already has gone before this decision and selected a leader for Israel.
The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.” -Numbers 27:18 (CSB)
Joshua is no stranger to this community. He has been saying yes to God’s command since we first met him in Exodus, as a young slave-set-free, being asked to lead Israel’s army against a formidable enemy. (Exodus 17) In his next role, Joshua was Moses’ assistant, doing whatever needed to be done throughout the desert journey. Then Joshua was one of the faithful spies who explored the promised land and called for courage and obedience in his fearful brethren (and almost lost his life for it!).
Joshua’s been observing, assisting and preparing all along the way–he’s ready for the job. God could have supernaturally sustained Moses’ life through the conquest of the promised land, but instead, God had fresh leadership planned for this new beginning.
The Gifts of Leadership Change
Even though transitions can be challenging, leadership change can bring renewed perspective, personality, and power to our ministry. In fact, it may be just what we need to push us out of our comfort zone! Stepping back gives someone else space to step up.
And leaving the comfort zone (for both the new leader, old leader, and community) can create fresh reliance on the Lord leading to deeper faith and exponential spiritual growth.
I’ve seen this myself after leadership transitions seasons. The process of change can be stressful and emotional, but there are so many beautiful gifts in the harvest.
These necessary shifts help us remember that God is our true leader; His Spirit is leading our steps even as the person at the front of the pack changes. We can be thankful for the gift of the leader stepping back and the new leader stepping up–knowing our unchanging Father is always guiding our path as the tender Shepherd of our souls.
Devotional and Journaling Questions on Leadership Transitions
- What feelings does a transition bring up for you?
- How have you seen God’s faithfulness in leadership shifts in the past?
- How have you or can you keep perspective during a season of leadership change?
- What are the gifts this new season (of stepping back or stepping up) could bring your personal faith and spiritual community?