Tag: Romans 15

On the Vulnerability of Leadership

Leadership can feel like walking a tightrope. On the one hand, leaders are expected to guide with wisdom, strength, and decisiveness. On the other, they are human—prone to weariness, doubt, and the need for support. Paul’s plea in Romans 15:30-32 offers a rare glimpse into the vulnerability of one of Christianity’s most influential leaders. He asks for prayer, not out of formality but out of deep need: “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.”

Paul does not pretend to be above the struggles of ministry. He openly acknowledges his fears and uncertainties. His request for prayer demonstrates a profound truth: leadership is not about projecting invulnerability but about fostering mutual dependence on God. Paul’s words challenge the modern tendency to idolize leaders who seem “above it all.” True leaders, like Paul, recognize that their strength is not in isolation but in a community that prays and intercedes with them.

What does this mean for us? Whether we lead in a church, a family, or a workplace, we must resist the urge to act as if we have it all together. Paul’s example invites us to share our burdens—with discretion and wisdom—with those we trust. Vulnerability in leadership does not diminish respect; it deepens it. It creates space for God’s power to be made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Yet vulnerability requires courage. It means acknowledging that we do not have all the answers and that we cannot carry the weight of leadership alone. It also means inviting others to partner with us through prayer, encouragement, and accountability. Paul’s request to the Romans reminds us that even the greatest leaders need prayer warriors to stand in the gap for them.

Reflect on your leadership today. Have you created space for vulnerability, or are you trapped in the pressure to appear invincible? What struggles are you carrying that you need to bring to God in prayer? And who are the trusted people in your life with whom you can share these burdens?

Christ Himself modeled this in Gethsemane when He asked His disciples to watch and pray with Him. If Jesus, the perfect leader, embraced vulnerability, how much more should we? Let us lead with authenticity, inviting others to see not our perfection but our dependence on God, so His strength can shine through us.

Solutioneering

‘Blue Sky Solutioneering’ is a phrase I first heard from Merlin Mann on the Back To Work podcast. The idea was that you (singular or plural) would just pluck solutions to complex problems out of thin air and then worry about how to realize them later. This is a common male problem, though I wonder if perhaps some women suffer from this as well. Men need to provide answers. We need to fix problems. We are natural-born solutioneers. My wife is helping me to understand scenarios where solutioneering is not helpful.

Such is the case with Job… or, more accurately, Job’s friends. In the case of grief, loss, and tragedy, this is not what we should be doing. These types of problems are not ones to be ‘fixed’. These types of problems are ones that need healing. And the business of healing is really God’s domain. It takes time. We need to talk about what has happened. We need to wrestle with our sometimes (often?) unreliable emotions. We need to come to the centre of what it is that has wounded us, and we need to allow the scar to form. The problem still is not ‘solved’, nor is it ‘gone’. It shapes us and informs how we will respond and react to similar events both in our lives and the lives of others going forward.

Job’s friends try to apply logic and reason to a soul wound. This is not the way. Their approach is cold and cliché and trite. Even if their words – for the most part – are true. The Apostle gives solid advice to this problem. Romans 15:9-13, 15 says:

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

I can’t help but wonder if Job’s friends drove Job’s frustration with God via their cliched responses and solutioneering. Our role is simply to ‘be there’ for people, God will heal the soul wound. We can look at the logical, reasoned response once the scar is formed.

Job 19-21 | 024/365