What do you do, and where do you go for renewal from the loneliness of leadership?

Leaders struggle with a sense of isolation from time to time. For example, when we’re charging toward a big goal, a new venture, or a challenging season, our team hesitates. We will feel lonely as we take responsibility for others when the buck stops with us. Isolation is heavy when others criticize, attack, or let us down, but also when we disappoint our team. Every leader faces loneliness at times, whether we admit it or not. King David models for us the way to renewal from loneliness. 

King David suffered difficult leadership moments. He was often forced to run for his life and hide in a harsh desert. He knew how to survive in the desert physically, but he wanted more. He wanted to thrive emotionally and spiritually, always. He did not want a life without God. In Psalm 63, David cries out to God while hiding in a desert cave.

In prayer, David intentionally shifts his focus from an earthly perspective to a vision of the throne of God. We can, too (see Colossians 3:1-3). The God David and we worship is the great KING who promises to dwell among his people.

Renewed by the truth, even if David were to endure adversity throughout the rest of his life, he commits himself to praise. Lifting his hands in that time of loneliness meant committing in the same fashion we do when we are in court and swear to tell the truth.

When we feel the loneliness of leadership, we can count on God to renew us.

 God is greater than our circumstances. God is greater than our problems. He is our healer. He is higher than any other. He is excellent in power. 

May we, like David proclaim, “My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.”

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