Sep 17, 2019
As a leader, you may deal with isolation in ministry. What causes that isolation, and what do you do when you feel like you have nowhere to turn? And how can you use Jesus’ example to develop and maintain healthy relationships in ministry?
In this episode of our Friendship Series, I talk with pastor, writer, and podcaster Noelle Rhodes about dealing with isolation in ministry and leadership. She shares her leadership journey, which includes a period of anxiety and depression. She tells us how she got through that season and how her relationship with Jesus changed as a result.
Noelle and I also talk about the importance of friendships, vulnerability, and dealing with crisis situations in leadership. If you feel lonely as a leader, you’ll gain insight and practical strategies on how to move away from isolation and toward friendship.
For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode65.
Key Points Discussed:
- Noelle’s leadership journey
- Noelle’s struggle with anxiety and depression
- Learning to listen to Jesus
- Noelle’s experience in Northern Ireland as a missionary
- Dealing with isolation in ministry
- Developing friendships in ministry
- Communicating about crisis situations
- The importance of friendships as leaders
Key Quotes from the Episode:
“Sometimes the path is clear, but mostly it isn’t.”
“God uses everything to bring us where He is.”
“The Lord was saying, ‘You have to listen to me, and when you do, I’m going to provide for you.’”
“The fruit doesn’t always look like numbers. The fruit looks like integrity, and honesty, and healing.”
“Leadership is being willing to let others watch your life. A good leader will continually say, ‘Look at me not because I have the answer, but because I’m following the answer.’”
“If you want to find true friendship, you have to be vulnerable, and you have to be consistent.”
“Time is the currency of trust.”
“Friendship is really about consistency.”
“When you conceal the matter, it breeds confusion… when you communicate appropriately what’s going on, it breeds compassion.”
“If you are lonely, and you need a friend, you’re going to need to create space in your life for that.”
Connect with Noelle Rhodes:
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This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode65.