Series: Leading With Conviction – Part 3
Posted in: Counselling With Conviction
“But if I say, ‘I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’
his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
— Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV)
There’s a kind of leadership the world will never spotlight—quiet, faithful, and often uncelebrated. It doesn't seek applause. It endures rejection, fatigue, and moments of deep inner wrestling. This is the shepherding leadership of Scripture.
And if you're living it, you’re likely not on a stage.
The Call No One Applauds
Jeremiah was not a popular prophet. He was mocked, misunderstood, and even imprisoned. Yet his obedience never hinged on approval. The word of God burned inside him, and that fire was enough to fuel his mission—even when the world silenced him.
As a leader in today’s church—especially in the face of spiritual fatigue or disappointment—you may know that same fire. You’ve considered stepping back. You've wondered if you're making any difference at all.
But like Jeremiah, something inside won’t let you walk away—not fully.
That’s not weakness. That’s evidence of calling.
Spiritual Shepherding vs. Stage Presence
Too often, leadership is confused with charisma. The loudest voice in the room gets the mic, and those who quietly bleed behind the scenes are left unseen.
But in the kingdom of God, stage presence does not equal spiritual authority.
The New Testament affirms what the Old Testament often revealed through physical hardship: God’s leaders are shepherds, not celebrities.
Consider Jesus—the ultimate Shepherd—who taught crowds but wept in solitude, who washed feet instead of demanding honor.
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
— Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)
Leadership worth imitating isn’t flashy.
It’s faithful.
New Testament Echoes: Jesus and Paul
The New Testament confirms that faithful leadership is rarely popular leadership.
Jesus, in His own hometown of Nazareth, was rejected outright.
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” they scoffed. (Matthew 13:55)
The Son of God—the only perfect shepherd—was met not with honor, but with suspicion and offense.
“A prophet is not without honor except in his own town.”
Paul was beaten, imprisoned, and abandoned by many of the churches he helped plant. He said plainly:
“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.” (2 Timothy 4:16)
And still, he preached, wrote, taught, corrected, and carried on.
Why?
Because like Jeremiah, they were not driven by applause but by calling.
Practical Takeaways for Leaders Tempted to Quit
1. Remember who called you.
If God put the fire in your bones, don’t expect men to keep it lit. Let Him sustain it.
2. Silence does not equal failure.
The prophet Ezekiel was told in advance that people wouldn’t listen. His success wasn’t measured by their reaction, but by his obedience (Ezekiel 2:5-7).
3. Resist the stage addiction.
Leadership isn’t proven in front of a crowd. It’s proven in the quiet, in the prayer closet, in the heartache, and in faithfulness over time.
4. Lean on the faithful few.
Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. Paul had Timothy, Luke, and others.
Find your Barnabas. Don’t go alone.
Fire in Your Bones
Jeremiah’s fire is what still burns in every God-called leader—whether in pulpits, in counseling offices, in homes, or across coffee tables.
It’s not a show. It’s not performance. It’s mission.
And it’s exhausting.
Which is why it’s not sustained by platform, but by presence—God’s presence.
The truth is: the most trustworthy shepherds aren’t standing on stages.
They’re usually standing in the gap.
Series Cap: The Leadership Journey So Far
Part 1: How to Lead Through Pain
Explored the cost of shepherding, the heartbreak it involves, and how Jesus calls us to lead from our scars, not around them.
Part 2: The Cost of the Call
Reflected on Moses, who bore the weight of a wandering people with deep frustration, yet still returned to God over and over.
Part 3: Shepherding Without a Stage
Uplifts the quiet, often unseen strength of spiritual leadership, and encourages those who serve without applause.
Closing Reflection
If you're ready to walk away, you're not alone.
But you’re not finished either.
The fire shut up in your bones is not of your making.
And it is not yours to extinguish.
Let the Holy Spirit stir again—not through accolades, but through conviction.
Not through performance, but through presence.
Leadership, real leadership, begins where popularity ends.
Personal Note:
This was the first passage ever shared with me during my first spiritual counseling session.
Thank you, Benoni P.
Your zeal always spoke louder than your words.
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