Action vs. Acceptance
What can you change and what must you release--as a leader?
As ministry leaders, we often carry the weight of many things—people’s pain, organizational pressures, spiritual responsibilities, and personal expectations. It can be hard to know what’s ours to fix and what’s simply ours to witness and hold with grace.
The Serenity Prayer gives us a powerful guide:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
That wisdom is essential when leading a trauma-informed ministry.
Sometimes we strive to rescue or repair what’s beyond our control—carrying emotional burdens that wear us down. Other times, we overlook the influence we do have—avoiding hard conversations or systemic changes that could create real healing.
Acceptance in trauma-informed leadership means acknowledging the reality of people’s stories without judgment or urgency to “fix.” It means creating space for lament, questions, and struggle. It’s being present with pain without being overwhelmed by it.
Action means stepping into our role as culture-shapers—challenging harmful norms, equipping our teams, and creating safer spaces for others to heal. It’s not reactionary; it’s intentional.
Wise leaders learn to live in the tension between action and acceptance—and that’s where transformation happens.
Scriptural Foundation:
📖 Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything…”
→ Ministry requires discernment: when to act, and when to wait.
📖 James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God…”
→ God gives the wisdom you need to lead in complexity.
📖 Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and trust is your strength.”
→ Trauma-informed leadership is rooted in peace, not pressure.
Personal Reflection:
Where are you over-functioning as a leader—and where is God inviting you to lead with less urgency and more trust?
Action Step:
Take 10 minutes to reflect or journal:
What can I actively influence in my ministry culture right now?
What must I surrender to God’s timing?
Where is the Spirit calling me to lead with compassion and wisdom?
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