Why leaders need to share their burdens
by Hugh Osgood

If the devil had the opportunity of throwing away all his tools bar one, which one would he keep? He'd keep discouragement because it's so powerful.

Discouragement overloads us with a sense of personal responsibility, inadequacy or unworthiness. If we think we're not doing enough that can feel so de-motivating. Discouragement piles on top of discouragement.

One of the things that I find most encouraging is to find someone who is on a level with me. Sometimes we try and find someone who is ‘up there’ like a mentor, but we also need people around us who know what we're going through and have felt the same. That kind of willingness to share and to bear one another's burdens is reciprocal.

The pressure of success is a large factor in discouragement. Jesus says, “Well done good and faithful servant” not “good and successful servant.” People who seem to get most discouraged are the ones who are most faithful. They're working away and are disappointed when the fruit is not as instantaneous as they'd hoped.

Discouragement can be a tremendous drain but God can turn it around. Use God's word as an encouragement. Read the Bible again for yourself because discouragement causes ‘shutdown’ and we need to be built up again on the inside. A minister built up in the Lord has something to give.

Hugh Osgood presents ‘Leaders' Insight’ on Premier and is Senior Minister and founder of Cornerstone Christian Centre.