Overlooked at Home: A Leadership Journey with God

Every story of transformation begins with a moment of realization—when comfort is no longer enough, and calling becomes undeniable. Mine didn’t begin in a church pew or on a mountaintop. It began in a boardroom, surrounded by strategy documents, performance charts, and deadlines.

For years, I worked in operations. I climbed the corporate ladder with sweat, resilience, and intention. It was a world of logistics, structure, and outcomes. I became good at what I did—trusted, reliable, and often called upon in a crisis. But somewhere along the way, a whisper began to stir in my heart:

“You were made to build people, not just systems.”

At first, I ignored it. After all, I was winning by every external metric. My identity had become intertwined with my performance, and pivoting meant risk. It meant stepping out of the known. But God doesn’t tend to leave His assignments vague for long. The whisper became a nudge. The nudge became a pull.

Eventually, the opportunity came: a new role in Organizational Development—a shift from managing operations to developing leaders.

The Call to Teach Leaders

One of my new assignments was to become a certified facilitator of Situational Leadership II (SLII), the widely respected model developed by Ken Blanchard. This was no small thing. I was tasked with guiding leaders across the organization—over 1,400 employees—in understanding how to flex their leadership style to meet the needs of their teams.

The SLII model is built on a simple but profound idea: leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Great leaders meet people where they are—encouraging the discouraged, directing the uncertain, and empowering the competent. As I began to teach it, something ignited in me. This wasn’t just a job. It felt like ministry.

I loved watching people have “aha” moments. I loved seeing insecure leaders grow confident. I loved facilitating conversations that changed not only workflows but people’s perspectives. This wasn’t just training. It was transformation. And for the first time in a long time, I felt fully alive in my work.

But then… came the tension.

The Weight of Familiarity

As I facilitated sessions across departments, I received glowing feedback. Employees from all areas thanked me for how the content came alive, how it made sense, and how it felt personal. It was deeply affirming. I knew this was part of my calling. I knew God had prepared me for such a time as this.

But there was one group that remained largely unmoved.

The people who knew me best.

Old colleagues from operations. Those who had worked alongside me for years. Those who had seen me in stressful meetings, on late-night calls, navigating the grind. For many of them, I was still just “Craig from ops.” Not Craig the facilitator. Not Craig the developer of people. Just... Craig.

Their response was muted. Sometimes dismissive. Rarely hostile—but quietly uninterested. While others leaned in, they leaned away. And it stung.

I wrestled with that deeply. I had spent years serving in the trenches with them. I assumed that would translate into credibility. But instead, it translated into a kind of blind spot.

Then one day, while reading through the Gospels, I saw it plain as day:

“Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’”
— Mark 6:4

That hit me hard. Jesus—Son of God, healer of the sick, raiser of the dead—was least accepted in the place that knew Him best.

Let that sink in.

He was overlooked not because He lacked power, but because people couldn’t reconcile His calling with their memory of Him.

Even Jesus Faced Resistance

In Mark 6, Jesus returns to Nazareth, His hometown. The people are amazed at His wisdom, but their amazement quickly turns to offense. “Isn’t this the carpenter? Mary’s son?” they say. In other words, We know this guy. Who does He think He is?

And the result?

“He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” (Mark 6:5)

Even Jesus experienced limitation—not because of lack of power—but because of people’s lack of faith in the familiar.

That realization gave me unexpected peace.

If Jesus Himself was dismissed in His hometown, what makes me think I’d be any different?

But here’s the good news: Jesus didn’t quit. He didn’t say, “Well, they don’t respect Me here, so I’m out.” He moved forward in His mission. He kept teaching. Kept healing. Kept inviting people into the Kingdom.

And I knew that’s what I had to do too.

Don’t Give Up on Your Calling

Maybe you’ve felt it too—this ache of being unseen, especially by those closest to you. You’ve stepped into something new. You feel God breathing on it. But the people around you aren’t clapping. They’re squinting. Questioning.

Let me remind you: your calling doesn’t require their approval.

If God has called you, He will anoint you. If He’s anointed you, He will appoint opportunities. And if you stay faithful, He will bear fruit in ways you can’t yet imagine.

That’s what I chose to believe. I poured myself into every workshop, every coaching session, every leadership retreat. I stopped needing validation from those who couldn’t see what God was doing in me.

And you know what happened?

Lives changed. Cultures shifted. Influence grew. And more importantly, I grew. Not in ego, but in faith.

Three Ways to Move Forward with the Holy Spirit in Your Calling

1. Anchor Your Identity in God, Not in People

When you make people your mirror, you’ll only reflect their limitations. When you make God your mirror, you reflect His purpose. I had to detach my worth from my former colleagues’ opinions. Their inability to see my growth didn’t negate its reality.

Scripture:

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?... If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
— Galatians 1:10

Application: Start your day in prayer, not in performance. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of who you are before the meetings begin. Let His affirmation settle your spirit before anyone else gets a vote.

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2. Speak with Authority, But Stay Humble

Jesus didn’t shrink in Nazareth. He taught. He served. He loved. But He also didn’t force acceptance. That balance of authority and humility is key.

You can walk confidently in your calling and still be gracious to those who doubt you. Don’t let rejection turn into resentment. Stay kind. Stay consistent. And stay close to Jesus.

Scripture:

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
— Colossians 4:6

Application: When challenged or questioned, respond with calm assurance. Don’t defend your calling—demonstrate it through love, consistency, and integrity.

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3. Focus on the Assignment, Not the Applause

Some assignments are meant to be celebrated. Others are meant to be endured. But all are meant to be completed.

The Holy Spirit didn’t lead you this far to leave you stuck in doubt. Whether your “Nazareth” is your family, workplace, church, or community—don’t lose heart. What seems invisible to others is fully seen by God.

Scripture:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
— Colossians 3:23–24

Application: Keep doing the work. Keep building people. Keep showing up. Let faithfulness be your legacy—not popularity.

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Final Reflections: Your Hometown Is Not Your Ceiling

One of the greatest lies the enemy whispers is this: “If they don’t believe in you, you must not be called.”

But Jesus proves otherwise.

Your calling isn’t cancelled because your hometown doesn’t clap.

Your anointing isn’t invalid because your coworkers don’t get it.

Your impact isn’t diminished because it begins in silence.

If anything, those quiet seasons refine you. They teach you to listen to the right voice—the voice of the Holy Spirit. And they prepare you for the places that will receive what you’ve been called to give.

So here’s what I know now:

I was called to organizational development not because it looked glamorous—but because it aligned with what God had placed in me: a desire to build up people, to restore what’s broken in leadership, and to speak life into the overlooked.

It wasn’t about the job. It was about the assignment.

And as long as the Holy Spirit keeps nudging, I’ll keep teaching. I’ll keep serving. I’ll keep showing up—even when I’m misunderstood, even when I’m underappreciated, even when it’s hard.

Because Jesus went before me.

And if He didn’t give up on His calling, neither will I.