As we begin today’s leadership insight, take a moment and reflect upon this past month. I want you to pinpoint at least one task you had to accomplish that was frustrating or difficult for you to undertake. In addition to the difficulty, also look for some responsibility that you really did not wish to do. Focus upon a task that was directly associated with the area of your leadership and influence.

Now that you have this task in mind, consider whether the skills and insights needed to effectively handle that task are part of your strengths and talents. Most leaders I have counseled quickly discover that the areas which are most frustrating for them or discouraging to them are areas that fall into one of the two following scenarios.

Scenario 1 – They are attempting to accomplish the task at hand without using their God-given talents, abilities, and insights.

Scenario 2 – The task at hand lies outside of their God-given talents, abilities, and insights.

From these two scenarios, the first seems to be the most common cause of discouragement, anxiety, stress, fear, or depression for them, so we’ll focus on this scenario today. The simple answer for minimizing frustrations, discouragements, stress, fear, and depression in this scenario is discovered in the truism, “Be Who God Has Created You To Be.”

You have a unique set of talents, abilities, and insights which God has placed within you. These character traits and skill sets are there to enable you to experience life, work, and ministry with enjoyment and success. Many struggles come when we consistently attempt to operate outside the boundaries of our strengths.

Picture your life as a page from a coloring book. You have a full range of colors to choose from in which you can create a masterpiece on that page. Your talents, abilities, and insights are the lines that are already drawn on the page. Frustration usually comes when you begin coloring outside of the lines of your skill sets. When you color within the lines, you will end up with a remarkable picture and more joy in what you are doing.

To that end, let me encourage you to embrace your God-given talents, insights, and abilities in every task you set forth to do. You will minimize the level of your frustrations and discouragements and experience greater joy in life and ministry!

Gary R. Linn

Continue to Part 2 of Minimizing Frustrations and Discouragements