Leading Through Tough Times 

This morning has dawned here in Brighton grey and misty, the land shrouded in a damp cloud keeping away the sun, meaning although it is day, it still seems dark and gloomy. And it mirrors the mood of many people I’ve already seen so far today. 

These are tricky times. Today brings news from the US which many find worrying, even upsetting - though its important to recognise that for others it is what they have hoped for, even voted for. The church too feels so divided at the moment - but it’s important in all these things to recognise that we bring a God given diversity and difference to all discussions and debates and decisions - political, theological, social. Our world is becoming more and more polarised, creating a culture where holding any middle ground is rejected or even despised, called weak. This means emotions like anger and fear can dominate and drive people’s actions, comments, responses. We know in pressured times human beings are even more likely to retreat from dialogue with those who are different from them, to try to find safety and solace in groups with people who feel like them. This can widen our differences and deepen our fear and sense of threat. For those in leadership it might lead to actions of taking power and control, dominating and looking to bring down those in opposition, destroying bridges others may try to build, overlooking the needs of vulnerable people for the sake of a ‘greater good’ they sense needs to be achieved.

We are called to something different. Jesus makes this clear in Mark 10, contrasting the way of the Kingdom, where “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” within this surrounding culture of power and dominance. We must respond to emotions like anger and fear with grace and peace and love, serving those who are in need, determinedly and defiantly refusing to be drawn into cultural battles, narratives of aggression or the temptation to build walls and boundaries around ourselves that keep others out. 

But what does it look like, on a grey day where a sense of gloom hangs over us? To lead well, to follow this Kingdom call to something different? How do we hold the fears of others in times when as leaders we may be fighting dark thoughts ourselves? What do you do if you know you have to lead through something that feels really tough?

Three quick thoughts.

1. Root yourself in Jesus. This sounds obvious (always the right answer!) but in tough times we need to be relentlessly practical about what it looks like. Where is the first place your mind goes to in the morning? The news bringing you out of sleep on your radio? Your phone? Social Media? What does it look like to ensure your first thought is of the Lord and his hope and promise. How do you make sure your life is built on a love that comes from beyond humanity? I love the opening to Psalm 9 (this morning’s psalm if you follow the rhythm of morning prayer): “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” This feels like a foundation for David - a determined decision about what his life is rooted in: rhythms of thanks and praise and an intentional focus, lifting his eyes to the Lord whatever his day brings. We can only hold something beyond the darkness of this world if we’re truly rooted in something beyond the darkness of this world. Difficult times require us to take the utmost care about the practicalities of what this looks like.

2. Don’t fake it. It is tempting when things feel uncertain or risky, to try to reassure others by covering it all up, faking a brightness, telling them everything is ok. I love this quote from Lord of the Rings which popped up on my social media feed this morning: “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Leading well in dark moments does not require us to pretend everything is fine. We can share the concerns of those we lead and echo their recognition of the things the world faces. But ultimately our decision is about what we do next, where we direct people’s eyes and hope, which story we tell and re-tell, which narrative we remind people of. God’s story is playing out in our world, and it is a story where the moments in which it seems like all is lost are often actually moments of victory; where defeat can be where the greatest strength is released, where power is made perfect through weakness. We can hold both fear and hope at the same time, denying neither, trusting the Lord with both. 

3. Find spaces of support. As a leader you are called to hold the emotions of many others. That may require you to put your own emotions down for a moment, to follow Jesus’ call to give your focus to others’ needs. But you cannot do this all the time. All humans have limits, and needs. Even Jesus, in his hour of greatest need, took the disciples he was closest to with him. He needed them around him. Who are your core people? Where are the small spaces where you can be honest, where your needs can be met, where you can refuel and allow yourself to be cared for so that you can care for others? How can you make doubly sure you have time for those if you are in a season where you know the emotional load is heavy? In those moments some of the most important things we do for others are the things we do to sustain ourselves; the things that ensure we will still be there supporting others, leading the people we’re called to, caring for those in need, for the long term. The more we are supported the less the risk that we too are drawn into defensive, exhausted polarity, aggression or anxious and impulsive actions we wouldn’t take if we were less strung out. Do you need to make space for those who long to care for you today, and find a space where you can - just for a moment - say “actually I am finding this really hard”? 

Psalm 9 carries on beautifully to remind us that “The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” 

Ultimately we do find our hope in the Lord. Our place of refuge and safety in times of trouble is in the shadow of his wings and the protection and power of his love. As leaders we can bring that to the people we lead no matter what the world is throwing at us today. But it's important we remember in the midst of that we are still human.