“Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me…Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.”

Acts 27:25, 34-36 NKJV

Caught in a terrible storm,I imagine the men aboard the ship with Paul were scared and uncertain, probably imagining the worst case scenario, as they faced an impending shipwreck. But in the midst of their anxiety and worry, Paul rose above the storm and encouraged the men, first with words – meeting their emotional need, and second with food – meeting their physical needs. 

As a leader, I see a great wisdom in this passage. Change and transition is nothing new, and though it’s something we experience often personally and professionally, it’s still uncomfortable and scary. As parents and leaders, how can we support ourselves, our family, and our teams in weathering the storms of life? If we were to follow Paul’s example, we would start with building up others with our words. In the midst of our storms, are our conversations full of complaint or encouragement? Do we remind others of His truth – that He is good? Do we inspire by refocusing on what our mission is or do we focus on the size and magnitude of the storm around us? The Bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Therefore, we have the power to bring forth life regardless of the environments we find ourselves in. 

Second, we provide physical nourishment as much as we are able. Food and sleep bring incredible perspective to a difficult situation. It’s amazing how much hunger and exhaustion skew perspective. Are people feeling overwhelmed and burned out? Are emotions high and anxiety rampant? Encourage those in the storm to rest and attend to their physical needs. I often ask someone that is struggling this question, “What is one thing you can do right now to take care of yourself physically and how can I support you in doing that?” Sometimes it looks like a day off and sometimes it looks like a nap. No one knows better what the person needs to “recharge” than they do. But if they don’t have an idea, my “go-to” is to recommend rest (time off). We should take care of our families, our teams, and ourselves by both recognizing and tending to physical needs. 

Third, hidden in the passage above is probably the most powerful way to encourage ourselves – gratitude – eucharistéō: to be grateful, to actively express gratitude; to give or to be thankful. I’ve noticed incredible impact when I intentionally show gratitude in the midst of a storm. But instead of a general statement like, “I am so grateful for this storm,” I focus on giving thanks for the individual or the team, “thank you for your support during this past week; I’ve noticed how everyone has been supporting one another and it’s made a difference. I am grateful.” I have found that gratitude in the midst of brokenness is the most powerful, transformative currency for my heart. 

May we encourage ourselves today to just keep going. “Be the Buffalo” as I like to say – just don’t give up. Head down, heart strong, keep moving. He’s got this and He will not forsake us.

Father – thank You for Your goodness and mercy. Thank You for how You love us. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.

Daily Reading: Acts 27-28

December 14, 2022