Pray for Our Leaders

At my first church, the pastor I was serving under, in my opinion, was not leading according to 1 Timothy 3:1–7. After months of frustration, I was ready to find another church. Before leaving, I decided to talk to another pastor. He asked me a question that cut straight to the heart: “Who do you have on a pedestal—God or a pastor? Pastors are human and make mistakes just like you.”

He directed me to Romans 3:23 (NIV): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yes, we are all sinners. None of us is better than the next, no matter the sin.

That conversation led me to some serious soul-searching and prayer:

• Did God call me to this church? Yes.

• Was the teaching sound, and was I being spiritually fed? Yes.

• Do I believe I should seek God’s guidance before making major decisions? Yes.

• Should I only move when I’m sure He’s leading me? Yes.

• Should I leave because I got my feelings hurt? Honestly, I wanted to.

So, I stayed—and I prayed. I prayed that the pastor would become the shepherd God called him to be. Six months later, it was the pastor—not me—who moved on. I continued to serve faithfully in that church for 14 years until God clearly told me it was time to move on to my next journey. I had a similar situation with an employer.

When leadership disappoints us—whether in a church, workplace, or community—our first response should be prayer. Scripture calls us to intercede for those in authority, for it is God who has placed them there:

• 1 Timothy 2:1–4 urges us to pray, intercede, and give thanks for all people, especially those in authority. Apostle Paul said this is good, and it pleases God.

• Romans 13:1 reminds us that there is no authority except that which God has established, and we are to recognize that He is the one who places leaders in their role. Like David, we are fallible and capable of making mistakes.

• Colossians 1:16–17 says all things, including rulers, were created through Christ, for Him and for His purpose.

  
  

We should be proactive in prayer, not waiting until a crisis arises. And while we pray, we must remember: our ultimate hope is not in a pastor, leader, or CEO—it is in Jesus Christ alone.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, seek God and ask what He wants you to do. While you wait for His answer, remain faithful—pray for their healing and restoration, forgive quickly, refuse to gossip, and encourage others to do the same.

As Jesus said in Matthew 5:4 (NIV), “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” People will fail—but Jesus never will. He sees your pain and cares that you are hurting. Where we place our faith and trust truly matters.

Many churches offer a program called Re:Generation. I went through it to better understand my emotions, identify my triggers, and learn healthier ways to cope. It’s a powerful program, and I encourage anyone seeking a stronger, healthier life—mind, body, and spirit—to consider attending. It’s truly liberating!