How should leaders respond to brokenness? - Brokenness - TouchPoints

2 Samuel 12:13David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.”

Effective leaders allow other people to confront them with the truth. But even that can be risky: Nathan had to conceal his rebuke to David inside a story. He wisely led David to pass judgment on himself before he realized what he was doing. A wise leader knows the difference between blind loyalty and the best loyalty, which speaks the truth even when it hurts.

Psalm 51:1-4Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

When a leader falls into sin, he must fall to his knees to be restored. David was guilty of adultery with Bathsheba and also of the murder of her husband, Uriah. Sin doesn’t get much worse than that! Yet when confronted (see 2 Samuel 12), David didn’t run from God. He didn’t make excuses for his failure, nor did he give up in despair. Instead, he acknowledged God’s justice and cast himself on God’s mercy. And he even made his confession public through this psalm.

John 21:15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

Peter’s denial of Jesus had broken his spirit (see John 18). But Jesus, in this resurrection appearance, restored Peter. He gave Peter the opportunity to undo his denial by reaffirming his love for Jesus. Leaders should come alongside those who are broken by their failures, much like God comforts us in our own failures.