One thought I’ve had recently (and maybe you’ve thought the same thing) when it comes to parenting and leadership is, “I bet it was easier in previous generations.” As a parent, dealing with teenagers and phones, all the technology, I’ve thought my parents and grandparents had it easier.

If you’re a pastor or leader, you’ve thought this as well, especially during covid. They had it easier in the ’80s and ’90s, before social media and online church. Church ministry was easier when people were mainly open to Christianity or had a church background.

Maybe it was.

Maybe it wasn’t.

The point is, we aren’t the first to think this. We aren’t the first to throw a pity party about it.

In Judges 6, we encounter Gideon. Judges is a fascinating book because it is filled with bad decisions, sin, violence, destruction, and God calling up leaders to lead in the face of incredible difficulties. Gideon is one of them. The angel of the Lord comes to Gideon in Judges 6 and says, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” If you read this, you would think this is a great compliment, and it is. But Gideon has questions. We all have questions. This is like when someone tells us, “You got this. You can do this. You were made for this.”

Gideon says in verse 13: “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

He asks, “What about what God did? What about the wonders and miracles that God did? Where are those?”

These are the moments of leadership and parenting when we say: What about when sermons were easier? When updating the music is what drew people in? What about when everyone had at least some biblical knowledge? What about when our kids didn’t have phones? 

This is when we sit with our church and staff and say, “Remember things before covid? Remember the numbers, and what God did?” There is a sense of grief and loss at that moment. This is a sense of wondering what will be in the future and how things will play out.

While things are never as great or as challenging as we remember, we don’t know that in the moment of remembering. 

All we know is that it is tough now. And that is what Gideon is reacting to. 

Look at how God responds in verse 14: “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” Go in the strength you have. Go with the gifts and talents you have. Go with the experiences you have. Go with what you have. 

If you are leading in this moment, you have all that you need to lead. God didn’t call someone else. He called you. 

If you are parenting at this moment, you are the parent your kids need. God has called you, not someone else. 

If God wanted you to lead or parent in the 90’s, he would’ve had it happen then. But he didn’t. 

But like Gideon, we still complain. Gideon pushes back, questions God, complains some more, says he can’t do it. He says, “I am weak!”

And God tells him (and us) in verse 16: “But I will be with you.” The word ‘but’ is essential. It is God’s way of saying, “I hear you, but…”

I know it is hard to parent, but I’m with you. 

I know teenagers and phones aren’t easy, but I’m with you. 

I know ministry is challenging, but I’m with you. 

I know people are afraid and divided right now, but I’m with you. 

I’m with you.