You probably have a drawer like I do at our house. Most folks do. Some simply call it a junk drawer. Yet we don’t want to throw the stuff in that drawer out.

Ours has clips for bags of chips. It has those little twisty ties that come on bread and other packages. And, among a few other things, it has rubber bands. Several of them.

Leadership expert John Maxwell made an interesting observation about rubber bands. He pointed out that these little rubber items are useless unless they are stretched. That makes sense. We grab one of those little bands and wrap it around something that needs to come together—to close off something or to gather groups of things like pencils, pens, or other rubber bands.

Maxwell’s point is this. As leaders, we are called to action when things need to get done. Leaders are often stretched in the process of bringing different people together and in the process of getting closure to sticky problems.

Leaders generally face these kinds of problems. Christian leaders have a resource others don’t have. We find a clue in God’s Word.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

As leaders, there are lots of good ideas for how to deal with the challenges. The Lord supplies His followers with God’s ideas.

In fact, the Bible implores us to move away from our human thinking and put our complete trust in the Lord for every area of our lives and our leadership.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Stretched. Yes. Sometimes to the point where we think we may break. But that should not make us reluctant to lead. Remember the rubber band. It is of little use unless it is stretched. God’s Word repeatedly gives us both direction and comfort for those who serve Him. Consider these passages:

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

For nothing will be impossible with God.

Luke 1:37 ESV

In another era, a new leader no doubt felt stretched. Joshua was following a great leader who was noted as a friend of God. It would have been easy to feel overwhelmed. However, the Lord had a direct command for Joshua that can serve us today, too.

…be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NLT

Have you been stretched recently? Remember, the challenges you face are what you are called to face. God is not surprised by these challenges. And He has provided wisdom and strength to face them. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT

So, as John Maxwell said, realize that, like those rubber bands in that junk drawer, being stretched is what you are designed to do, for God’s purpose and for your good.

God’s best,