Have you ever been lost—but not fully lost?
There’s a unique genre of “lost” that I like to call “man lost.” You’re not totally disoriented, but you’re unsure how to get from where you are to where you need to be. It’s often accompanied by the classics:
- “It used to be here.”
- “It’s around here somewhere.”
- “It’s been a while since I came this way.”
That feeling doesn’t just happen on road trips. It happens in our spiritual journey too.
As leaders in the Church, we’re called to help people in two distinct but connected ways: to reach the lost and to make disciples. The first is often celebrated. The second is often slow, messy, and deeply personal. And yet both are essential.
Jesus illustrated this beautifully in Matthew 18:12–14, reminding us that the Father rejoices not only in the salvation of the lost, but also in the return of those who’ve wandered.
The Journey of Discipleship
I recently explored a book called The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich. They outline six stages of the spiritual life—patterns that reflect how people grow in faith, struggle with self, and mature into love. These stages help us know where people are and how to walk with them in grace.
1. Recognition of God
A sense of awe or need awakens the soul. It’s a moment of divine awareness, but often coupled with insecurity or isolation.
2. Life of Discipleship
Belonging, learning, structure, and spiritual security characterize this season. The risk? Becoming rigid or self-righteous.
3. The Productive Life
Here, the believer finds purpose in serving. Many think this is the summit of faith, but it can become performance-driven and exhausting.
4. The Journey Inward
This is where things get difficult. It’s a time of self-examination, spiritual crisis, and letting go. People face “The Wall”—a painful but refining barrier that invites surrender and deeper trust.
5. The Journey Outward
After passing through the wall, the believer emerges with renewed purpose. Ministry becomes more about presence than productivity.
6. The Life of Love
The final stage is marked by peace, detachment from striving, and compassionate living.
When Ministry Gets Messy
Most churches are good at guiding people to Stage 3. But Stage 4—the inward journey—is harder. It’s unpredictable. And it can feel like a threat to our tidy church systems.
But as 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 reminds us:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
You can’t lead someone through a cave you’ve never entered. But if you’ve walked through darkness and found grace, you can guide others with gentleness and hope.
Leading with Compassion
In the film 13 Lives, rescuers attempt to save a soccer team trapped in a flooded cave. One diver gently guides a boy whose foot gets caught under a rock. He stops, frees him, and presses on.
That’s what spiritual leadership often looks like.
- We lead not because we know everything—but because we know the One who does.
- We walk with people at the pace of grace.
- We carry the burden of growth ourselves so we can better carry others.
Just because the last person failed doesn’t mean you will. Try something different. Stay faithful.
Final Thoughts
Being a disciple-maker isn’t glamorous—it’s gritty. But it’s one of the greatest calls you could ever answer.
Everyone is lost or wandering until they aren’t. Let’s be the kind of leaders who don’t just reach the lost but guide the wandering. Let’s help others find their way—not with maps alone, but with compassion born from our own journey.
The Father rejoices over the one who wandered and is found. Let’s help them come home.