There are a thousand situations that call for discernment as a leader in ministry. Which of these teachings is true:

Do everything without complaining. (Phil 2:14)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2)

What is the difference between speaking a complaint and a sharing burden?
How are they similar and how are they different?
Where is the line between the two? If we don’t know, we are in danger of causing great pain.

When we complain, we destroy community and poison attitudes.
When we keep from sharing a burden we destroy our souls and run deeper into isolation.

In this, audience is the defining factor. To whom we share determines if what we say is a complaint or a burden.

All of us have the following: pillows, spouses, close friends, and a solid ministry team.
These are the places where we share our burdens: we are safe to cry, vent, unload, unleash, explode, unravel.

As leaders in God’s family, we also have the following: the people we are leading. Students and adult volunteer leaders. When we share our burdens here, we become complainers. The expression of our feelings and fears become an unwise investment. They are placed into a vessel that ought not hold our burdens.

No, we do not present a perfect face to the ones we are serving. We are open and authentic. But only to a point. Our burdens must not become complaints. When they do, we are no longer leaders and we limit our influence. More importantly, we cause pain that ought to be avoided.

It is our responsibility to discern the right time and place to share a burden without complaining.

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