Here’s our family just a year ago, the last time we were all together.

But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.  There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah.  Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. Jeremiah 39:5-7

The king was a great politician.Â

On one hand he was a puppet installed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  So he had to kowtow to the Chaldeans on the right of the map.Â

On the other hand he was ruler of the Jews who were itching to throw the Babylonians off. So he had to curtsey to the locals on the left side of the map.Â

As the story unfolds King Zedekiah always knew what was the right political answer, but he never looked ahead at ultimate outcomes. He only looked to the left or right, he never looked ahead.

If kings struggle with people pleasing then we must as well. There are many voices trying to guide us home, and sometimes all of them sound right. We can live to please them and in the end lose everything precious to us. Or if we can bear to live for a little while with rejection we can inherit more than we have imagined possible.

A leader who is worthy of the title of leader must learn to be comfortable with disapproval. He must be a person who can close his eyes and play forward the impact of the decisions that he makes. He must also be a man of God who can get a bird’s eye view of life from his knees. If Zedekiah had only done those two things the lives of thousands would have been spared. That is why leaders must learn to be comfortable with discomfort. The lives of many depend upon it.

Father, help me not to get too comfortable along the way. Keep me steady when others don’t see what you do. Help me to see life more and more from your point of view. Amen.