Book Review: Tempered Resilience

Recently in a conversation with my brother, we discussed the number of ministers that have left ministry over the last year or so.  It feels like the stresses of the past 18 months have taken their toll on many ministers— uncertainty, constant changes and confusion, and even criticism from within the local body. It’s been an extreme challenge for me, for sure.  I’ve seen burnout in my team and in myself.  

I heard about this book and added it to my reading list because resilience is certainly something I need right now.  Sometimes I feel like the power of certain books is WHEN you read them; reading this book while struggling with exhaustion felt like a confirmation of everything I needed to hear from the Lord. 

Tempered Resilience by Tod Bolsinger is a book for ministers and Christian leaders, particularly those who lead change (and let’s face it, who isn’t doing that right now?!?).  Based on the concept of tempering steel, in which useful tools are made only after submitting to the fire, the hammer, and the anvil, men and women are formed into God’s leaders through the crucible of seemingly impossible situations.  It’s enlightening and encouraging, based on concrete examples like blacksmithing, Martin Luther King Jr’s leadership, and of course, Biblical examples of leaders who were tempered by their circumstances into being God’s agent for change.

This one really hit me hard.  I hadn’t gone more than a chapter or two before I’d already sent out a message to key leaders that I believed could benefit from this book. I read it free through Hoopla, and I highly recommend it for Christian leaders.