"I can't tell anyone I'm struggling because leaders are supposed to have it together."
How it sounds in your head: You're the one they come to for prayer. You lead worship. You're on the platform. If they knew how much you're barely holding on, they'd lose respect. Leaders don't fall apart - they hold everyone else up.
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10Source: Religion's image management - ministry as performance instead of authenticity.
She's watched leaders get quietly removed when they showed weakness. Vulnerability feels like disqualification, not discipleship.
Peter denied Jesus three times, cursed, said he never knew Him - the worst ministry failure imaginable. Jesus didn't remove him, retrain him, or put him on probation - He restored him instantly by the fire and said "Feed My sheep," giving him the keys to the Kingdom and making him the rock of the early church.
I REFUSE the lie that I must hide my struggles to maintain my ministry. IT IS WRITTEN that His strength is made PERFECT in weakness - my brokenness isn't a barrier to His power, it's the breeding ground for it. I am NOT disqualified by struggle; I'm positioned for grace. The same God who used Peter after denial, David after adultery, and Moses after murder doesn't need my polished image - He uses broken vessels. IT IS WRITTEN there is NO CONDEMNATION for those in Christ Jesus - not when I'm strong, not when I'm struggling, NEVER. I step into authentic community knowing my worth isn't my image, it's my identity as a daughter under the BARAK blessing that covers even my worst days.
The Father isn't scrolling through your Instagram looking for proof you're qualified. He's sitting with you in the mess, the same way Jesus sat with Peter by the fire after the worst betrayal, asking not "Why did you fail?" but "Do you love Me?" - restoration before reputation.