Christian leaders must have a belief in the love of a sovereign God. This strong belief allows them to demonstrate hope even during the most difficult times. Read the entire book of Lamentations focusing on 3:19-26.

Jeremiah’s home, the city of Jerusalem, had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The temple, the king’s palace, the city gates, the city walls and virtually every home had been destroyed and burned. This setting of total destruction is when the prophet Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. The book is named after his lament over the tragedy.

When a leader has poor decision-making skills it will lead to disaster. Read Jeremiah 40:7-41:10.

Babylon had captured Jerusalem; they massacred most of the people, took most of the rest into captivity and exiled them to Babylon but left a small contingent of troops behind with some of the poor people of Judah. Jeremiah was also freed and allowed to stay in Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as the Jewish governor over the towns of Judah and the few poor people that were left behind.

Christian leaders can guide their team through difficult times, communicating positive vision for the future, if they truly believe God is sovereign in every circumstance. Read Jeremiah 32:1-27.

It is the 10th year of King Zedekiah’s reign in Judah. The Babylonians are for the third time attacking Jerusalem and this time they are angry and bent on total destruction of the city because of Judah’s violation of their last peace treaty. King Zedekiah had Jeremiah under house arrest because he refused to change his prophecy that Babylon would conquer and destroy the city of God and destroy the temple of God.

When a leader stands with God, their position will be secure. Read Jeremiah 15:15-21.

Jeremiah acted with courage to deliver God’s message no matter how unpopular the message or how threatening the crowd. Jeremiah delivered God’s truths even when he had to stand completely alone in opposition to powerful leaders. Jeremiah asked God to remember the stand he took. Jeremiah paid a price for his stance:

Good leaders know how to balance transparency with being an example. Read Psalm 6:1-10.

In Acts 13:22 God says, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart…” David was a powerful individual. God blessed him in battle similar to a modern day superhero yet David never hesitated to reveal his emotions and sometimes his own weaknesses. Even after David became king of Israel and one of the most influential men in the Middle East he openly disclosed his fears, his anxieties, and his ambitions.