God often requires leaders to reconcile difficult relationships. Read Hosea 2:1- 3:3.

Hosea’s leadership task, assigned to him by God, was to predict the Northern Kingdom’s exile and later restoration. In order to illustrate God’s message that He loved Israel, an unfaithful, covenant breaking people, Hosea was asked to marry a prostitute. Hosea obeyed God’s command and married Gomer only to have his heart broken when Gomer proved unfaithful and eventually left him. Later, Hosea was asked to seek out Gomer, an emotionally broken, financially destitute, unhappy person and forgive her and restore their marriage relationship. Hosea’s love for Gomer was meant to be a picture of God’s love for an unfaithful people.

Effective leaders understand that discipline for the individual or for the team should have a time of restoration when the process fulfills its purpose. Read Lamentations 3:31-36.

As Jeremiah lamented the destruction of Jerusalem, his thoughts went to God’s mercy even in the midst of an extremely difficult situation. Jeremiah wrote, “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, He will show compassion…to deny a man his rights before the Most High, to deprive a man of justice – would not the Lord see such things.”

Every leader will make mistakes but they don’t have to prove fatal to your leadership career. Read Psalm 51.

The Bible’s record of King David, Israel’s second king, indicates that he made some major moral and ethical mistakes but God allowed him to stay on the throne until his death. One of David’s mistakes was so heinous that it violated many Jewish laws, several of the Ten Commandments, and could have been punished by death. David’s sin was done in secret from people in his own court but God knew all about it. God sent His prophet Nathan to confront David concerning his adultery and resultant pregnancy with a woman named Bathsheba and to also confront him for arranging to have her husband murdered to cover up his sin. Psalm 51 is David’s response to that confrontation.

When times of trouble hit godly Christian leaders, even trouble they bring on themselves, they are wise to turn to God and wait patiently for His help. Read Psalm 40:1-17.

King David wrote Psalm 40. He was no stranger to God’s great blessing and he was no stranger to trouble and suffering in his leadership role, some of it brought on by his own actions. Acts 13:22 calls David “a man after (God’s) own heart” at least in part because no matter if he were living the good life or in the midst of difficult days he sought God and would make God’s goodness known to anyone who would listen.

Godly Christian leaders do not take vengeance or hold grudges. Read Job 42:7-16.

After nearly 40 chapters of criticism and condemnation from his three friends, Job had the opportunity to get even when God announced His displeasure with them. Job could have said “I told you so” but instead he prayed for them. Job refused to hold a grudge but rather interceded for them in prayer and sent them on their way.