The Lion and the Lamb Leadership: Learning When to Lead with Strength and When to Lead with Love

Shakila B.
Mar 14
7 min read

A lion with a vibrant mane lies next to a standing lamb. The background is plain, emphasizing their peaceful, relaxed posture.

–Not every battle requires a roar, and not every moment calls for silence.

*If you’d like, scroll down and start the soaking worship music first. Then come back up and read the post while the music plays softly in the background.

This reflection is about what I’ve come to think of as Lion and Lamb leadership, learning when to lead with bold strength and when to lead with quiet love. As the only piece of feminine energy in my house, a wife and mom of three boys, with one already stepping into early adulthood, I can say these roles come with their fair share of challenges.

For some visual context, I stand around 5'2"… and everyone else in my house is 5'11" and up.

So listen. I can yell if necessary, but if it ever came down to anything physical… chileee… let's just say the odds would not be in my favor, Sparkle Bestie. 😂

But in all seriousness, my family loves me deeply, and I'm grateful. Still, a thought came to visit me some time ago and recently it came back around again:

Is this a Lion moment or a Lamb moment?

After talking with one of my most trusted confidants, he gently said something that stayed with me:

Try leading with love. You may get a better response.

That simple insight stuck with me.

You see, growing up on defense taught me a few things. Life placed me in situations where I had to be more aggressive than my true nature. Sometimes that approach worked.

But other times… it didn’t.

Because no matter how tough we try to become, there will always be something or someone––bigger, rougher, or louder.

And chileee… I had to learn that lesson the hard way more times than I would have liked.

Eventually, after enough battles, I swung too far the other direction. I became passive. Timid. Overly agreeable. People-pleasing started creeping in.

What I didn’t realize then, but understand now, is that life will sometimes stretch us in both directions so we can learn balance.

A woman balances two children in scales. Abstract background with stars, leaves, and neutral colors. Calm and harmonious mood.

And that’s where the Lion and the Lamb come in.

Jesus Modeled The Lion And Lamb Leadership Balance Beautifully

For most of His ministry, He led like a Lamb, with compassion, patience, humility, and deep love for people. He healed the sick, spoke gently to the broken, and showed mercy where others wanted judgment.

But don’t get it twisted.

When it was time to flip tables in the temple and call out hypocrisy among the Pharisees…

Chileee… Jesus was NOT the one to play with. Okay?

Scripture even calls Him the Lion of the tribe of Judah, a symbol of authority, power, and kingship.

So what does that teach us?

It teaches us that wisdom in leadership is knowing which posture the moment requires.

Because if we are the lion all the time, roaring, forcing, pushing our will on every situation, we will exhaust ourselves.

But if we are the lamb all the time, overlooking everything and allowing people to trample our boundaries, we will lose ourselves.

True strength lies in the balance between the two.

And this balance reminds me of something fascinating I learned about Japanese swords, specifically the katana.

A katana with a black and gold hilt lies on a dark wooden surface, reflecting light on its polished blade.

A katana is not forged from one type of metal.

Instead, traditional sword makers create it with two different metals working together.

Inside the blade is a soft iron core, which gives the sword flexibility so it can absorb shock without breaking.

Wrapped around that core is hard high-carbon steel, which provides the sharpness and cutting power.

A sword breaks into pieces, shattering with dynamic force. Bright light bursts from the fracture, surrounded by dark shards in motion.

If the entire sword were made of hard steel, it would snap under pressure.

But because it has that softer core inside, it becomes stronger overall.

That imagery spoke to me deeply.

Because sometimes we think strength means being hard all the time.

But real strength often requires softness at the center.

A heart rooted in compassion.

A spirit guided by love.

A willingness to bend without breaking.

If we try to live like a lion in every situation, we will burn out.

And if we live only like a lamb, we may never rise to confront the giants placed in our path.

Which brings me to something else I heard while listening to a sermon by Joel Osteen about the Lion and the Lamb.

A man with a briefcase walks along a glowing path under a swirling galaxy, surrounded by cosmic, vine-like structures in a surreal night sky.

He talked about how many situations that look like lion moments are actually distractions.

Things that try to disturb our peace and drain our energy so we have no strength left for the battles that actually matter.

The real giants.

A young archer with a bow faces a towering giant in a dusty, barren landscape. The scene is tense, with earthy tones and dramatic lighting.

The Goliaths assigned to our lives.

And when we defeat those giants, it often doesn’t just benefit us, it benefits our families, our communities, and sometimes generations after us.

Silhouettes of people walking towards a bright light, surrounded by large figures in warm, orange-toned hues, creating a hopeful mood.

So we have to learn discernment.

Lambs can graze peacefully because they trust their shepherd is watching over them.

And in the same way, we can learn to be at peace, trusting that God is fighting battles on our behalf. Even the battles under our roofs, if you know what I mean.

So the next time something challenges your peace, pause for a moment and ask yourself two simple questions.

Is this a Lion moment or a Lamb moment?

Then ask yourself:

Will my response in this moment protect my peace… or pull me out of it?

And sometimes, when fear or doubt tries to keep you small, ask another question:

Could this be a moment of destiny?

A moment asking you to rise up and step into the courage required to unlock the next door in your life.

Sparkle Bestie...

Will you join me in learning this balance?

In asking God to teach us when to roar… and when to rest?

When to stand firm like a lion…

And when to trust Him like a lamb.

Pink Bible with gold ornate design and a large gemstone on the cover, resting on soft pink fabric. Elegant, luxurious appearance.

Scripture to Stand On ✨

Matthew 5:5 (NIV)"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

→ Meekness does not mean weakness.Biblical meekness means strength under control. It is the ability to remain humble, calm, and disciplined even when you have the power to respond differently. Jesus shows us that true strength is not always loud or forceful—it is often steady, patient, and guided by wisdom.

John 2:15 (NIV)"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts…"

→ Jesus was loving and compassionate, but He was not passive when righteousness was being violated. When the temple was being disrespected and turned into a marketplace, He responded with bold authority. This moment reminds us that there are times when love must also stand firm and confront what is wrong.

Revelation 5:5 (NIV)"See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed."

→ Jesus is described as the Lion of Judah, symbolizing authority, victory, and power. While He often led like a Lamb in humility and sacrifice, He also carries the strength of a King.

This shows us that both gentleness and power can exist together in godly leadership.

Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

→ These qualities are the evidence of a life led by the Holy Spirit. When we are walking closely with God, our responses become shaped by these fruits. They guide us in knowing when to move with compassion, when to show patience, and when to practice self-control rather than reacting emotionally.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

→ Life requires discernment of timing. Not every moment calls for the same response. Sometimes it is time to step forward boldly, and other times it is time to be still and trust God. Wisdom comes from learning to recognize which season we are in.

Diverse group of people standing closely with hands in prayer, eyes closed. Warm light, peaceful and serene mood.

Let's Pray About It ✨

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing us that strength does not always look like force.

Teach us how to lead with love while still standing firm in truth.

Help us govern our spirits and our emotions with wisdom and discipline.

Show us when to be bold like the lion and when to rest in Your protection like the lamb.

Protect our peace from distractions that drain our energy, and give us clarity to recognize the battles that truly matter.

And when the moment calls for courage, remind us that You are standing beside us.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

A Note From My Heart to Yours ✨

Sparkle Bestie,

If you're anything like me, you may have spent seasons swinging between two extremes—being too hard on the world, or too soft with it.

But God is not asking us to live at the extremes.

He’s teaching us the beauty of balance.

Strength with compassion.

Authority with humility.

Power wrapped in love.

So the next time life challenges you, pause for a moment and ask the question:

Is this a Lion moment… or a Lamb moment?

That single moment of reflection might save your energy for the battles that actually matter.

And trust me…

Some of those battles are not just about us.

They are about the doors we are meant to open for the people coming after us.

Sending you love and sparkle,

Your Sparkle Bestie,

Shakila B. ✨

Journal Prompts

Take a moment to reflect and write honestly:

• Where in my life have I been responding like a lion when a lamb may have been wiser?

• Where have I been too passive when courage was actually required?

• What situations in my life right now require discernment rather than reaction?

• What would it look like to trust God more deeply with the battles I’m facing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzltBF2mnLg

Soaking Worship Music

Take a moment to sit in the presence of God.

Let the music wash over you, quiet your spirit, and write down whatever rises in your heart.

If this reflection resonated with you, you may also enjoy reading “Releasing Offense & Protecting Your Peace,” where I share another lesson God taught me about guarding our hearts and responding with wisdom instead of reaction.

*Some images in this post were created with the assistance of AI as a visual extension of the written message.

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