Many leaders live in tomorrow—and miss the blessings of today.  While looking ahead and solving problems is a needed component of leadership, it can lead to a lack of appreciation for what is. Serving leaders learn to lead with gratitude. Consider Paul’s leadership:

³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. ³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” ³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves (Acts 27:33–36, NIV).

Paul was one of 275 passengers on this boat during a life-threatening storm. He has no position or title but leads the crew and passengers with his words of encouragement. Then, he pauses to give thanks—a powerful picture of leading with gratitude.

Leading with gratitude is a choice.

Paul took bread and “gave thanks to God in front of them all.” What could he give thanks for in this crisis? All around him was fear of the future and a sense of doom. We don’t know what he said, but perhaps he gave thanks that they were still alive, that they had bread to eat, and that they were not alone in the storm. Perhaps he thanked God for His presence or for the vision that gave him much hope a few days earlier. But whatever he said, Paul chose to give thanks. The choice to express gratitude refocused his attention and all those around him on their blessings instead of their fears.   

Some leaders look around and see problems on every side. They call their team for a meeting to solve the problems and address the issue. They have no time to stop and give thanks. But serving leaders choose to look beyond the problems and give thanks for what is good. Even when they lead a meeting to address challenges, they begin by publicly giving thanks as Paul did. They lead with gratitude.  

Leading with gratitude is concrete.  

Paul’s gratitude led to a concrete tangible action, “he broke it and began to eat.” He acknowledged that the sailors and passengers were physically hungry and would need some energy. He also understood that two weeks of watching the wind and the waves had taken an emotional toll and brought a sense of helplessness. So, he invited them to take a small but significant step of action over their own future.

Some leaders pause to give thanks, but don’t invite others to act on their gratitude. But serving leaders use gratitude as a call to action. They invite their team to give to others, to volunteer for a project or to write a note of appreciation. They lead with gratitude. 

Leading with gratitude is contagious.

Paul’s gratitude was contagious, “they were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.” Paul’s actions changed the atmosphere on the boat as people ate together for the first time in weeks. An attitude of gratitude is contagious; it impacts the lives of others and helps them to also give thanks.

All leaders impact others with their attitudes. Some leaders focus on the problems and ignore what is good. (They would do well to wear a mask that kept their attitude to themselves!) But serving leaders seek to have an attitude of gratitude and share it with everyone in the room. They lead with gratitude. 

For further reflection and discussion:

• Is my natural impulse to look at what could be or to be grateful for what is? How does this impact my leadership?
• In what current circumstances do I need to stop and focus on gratitude? How can I do this publicly?
• What can I do to demonstrate my gratitude in concrete ways? In what ways can I call my team to actions that express gratitude?
• What attitudes are spreading under my own leadership? What can I do to make a greater positive impact?           

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll focus on incarnational leadership, a Christmas theme.

Paul continues to challenge servant leaders to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).But will speaking truth in love accomplish the change we desire? Since Paul recognizes that we might be tempted to avoid speaking the truth because we can’t predict the outcome, he also tells us that love always hopes (1 Corinthians 13:7).So, servant leaders are called to speak the truth with hope. What does it mean to hope as we speak truth?

We normally use the word ‘hope’ to mean a wish, something we desire to be true. A servant leader may desire to speak the truth in hope that the listener will respond with change. But this is not what Paul meant when he said that love always hopes. In the Bible, hope has a much stronger meaning. Biblical hope is a confident belief in what God has promised. We hope in what is not yet seen. The source of hope is not our desire but in God’s faithfulness. In the last issue we looked at speaking truth with trust. The focus of trust is on the other person; the focus of hope is on God.

So, as servant leaders learn to speak truth with hope, their foundation is not in what they ‘hope’ will happen. Instead their hope is in God’s ability to take truth and accomplish His purposes both in their lives and in the lives of the listener. They may or may not see the outcome, but servant leaders are called to speak truth with hope based on God’s faithfulness.

Speaking the truth with hope requires balance.

Some leaders may face a situation that requires change but hesitate to speak the truth. They conclude that since their hope is in God, they will keep quiet and allow God to produce the change. Their hope is in God, but they are not speaking truth!

A balance is needed. Love requires that truth be spoken with hope in God, not the person involved. Servant leaders learn that their hope in God’s work is combined with their willingness to speak truth.

Speaking the truth with hope reveals maturity.

Young leaders may speak truth to someone who walks away with no visible change. When nothing happens, the immature leader may speak truth again, but a little louder. They believe more energy on their part will accomplish greater change for the listener! Finally, in disappointment, the leader concludes that it’s better not to keep speaking the truth.

But with maturity, servant leaders learn to speak truth with hope. This hope is not in the person, but in God’s ability to use truth to do His work. They have a deep confidence that what is spoken in love will ultimately accomplish God’s purposes even if they don’t see it visibly. Servant leaders also recognize that part of God’s purposes may be developing patience in them as they wait to see what they hope for!

Speaking the truth with hope reflects Jesus.

Jesus speaks truth with hope when the rich young ruler comes to him and asks what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21).

Jesus could have tried to make the truth less demanding, but He loved the man too much to ignore the truth. He knew that the young ruler might turn away, as he did after hearing Jesus’ words. But Jesus spoke truth with hope, believing that at any time God could turn this difficult situation around.

Immediately He told His disciples, all things are possible with God (Mark 10:27).We do not know if change ever occurred for this young ruler. But Jesus spoke truth with a deep hope in God’s ability to change the situation. And He teaches servant leaders to do the same!

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• What is my natural tendency: to speak ‘truth’ with hope in God or in the person to whom I’m speaking? What is the result in my leadership?
• When have I spoken truth, but not with hope in God? What was the result in my own life and in the life of the person to whom I spoke?
• Can I think of another time when Jesus showed His deep hope as He spoke the truth? What can I learn from His example?

Copyright, Global Disciples 2019.

“LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. ² May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. ³ I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. ⁴ I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. ⁵ I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. ⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. ⁷ Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. ⁸ You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; ⁹ my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you” (Psalm 88:1-9).

It is impossible to read this Psalm and not realize that David is in a very dark place. David, the “man after God’s own heart” is depressed! Depression is a state of sadness or grief that continues over time and impacts emotions, thinking and often actions. It is a very complex emotion because it can result from spiritual issues, painful life events, or other causes. But it can also be the result of chemical imbalances in the physical body which can be treated with medicine.

Servant leaders, as anyone else, can experience depression either temporarily or long-term. Servant leaders learn from David how to lead with depression.

Depression should be recognized. David admits that he is “in the darkest depths.” He feels like he will die soon and mentions his thoughts about the grave in several places. He feels that he has no friends and that even God is against him: “Your wrath lies heavily on me.” He cannot see a way out. This is one of the few psalms that does not end with a word of hope or a change of perspective.

Servant leaders learn to recognize when they experience depression. In themselves and others they learn to identify the signs of ongoing despair, a sense of hopelessness or worthlessness, and a fixation on death or suicidal thoughts.

Depression should be revealed. As with the other emotions David expressed, he is not afraid to reveal the depths of his despair as he cries out to God in this Psalm. But today, where can a leader, or even a follower, stand and say as David did, “I am overwhelmed with troubles”?

Depression is perhaps the most difficult of all emotions to reveal because of the stigma and shame usually associated with depression or other mental illnesses. The church, which should be the safest place for people who struggle, is often the first to condemn those who feel depressed. But depression can lead to suicide when it is not handled well and the worst thing a leader can do is to refuse to share it with God and others.

Servant leaders learn to reveal depression. They talk to God and with others revealing how they feel. They refuse to hide their condition.

Depression should be restrained. David, in this psalm, did not rise out of his depression and lead. But we know from his life story that he was able to restrain his depression so that it did not define his leadership.

Servant leaders also learn to not allow depression to become the controlling emotion of their leadership. When depression comes from chemical imbalances, servant leaders seek medical help and prayer as they would for any other sickness. If necessary, they step away from their leadership role for a time to find help and healing. And with God’s grace, they find ways to live and lead victoriously even with the heaviness of depression. There is hope for those who lead with depression!

If you, or someone you know, faces an ongoing battle with depression, I encourage you to learn more than space allows here. My wife’s story* is a good place to start.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• How does my culture view depression? In what ways has this impacted the way I see this emotion? How does the life of David challenge my views?
• Am I aware of the signs of depression in my own life or in those I serve?
• When in my life have I experienced depression? Was I able to recognize it at the time? Later?
• In what way can I reveal depression appropriately? Are there inappropriate ways of revealing my depression?
• How can I restrain my depression so that it does not control my leadership?
• Among those I serve, who struggles with depression? How do I respond to them as a leader? How aware am I of their struggle? Have I encouraged them to seek professional help?

*The emotion of depression is one that I have not struggled with personally, but it has touched my life deeply in walking closely with my wife, Loice, who has struggled with depression and anxiety for over 20 years. She has courageously refused to give in to the darkness and through prayer, medical help, and the support of many around her, continues to live and lead victoriously even with depression. She speaks openly on mental health and wrote a book about her journey, Living Victoriously with Anxiety and Depression.

You can purchase a hard copy for yourself or others by clicking this link. You may contact her through her website, www.FreedomInHimMinistries.com.

We cannot, in this short space, begin to explain the mental health issues surrounding depression. For information, I encourage you to visit http://kaywarren.com/mentalhealth/. This site was developed by Kay Warren. She and her husband Rick Warren had a son who committed suicide and through that pain they seek to help others who struggle.

Copyright, Global Disciples 2018.

Paul was chained up in prison, struggling, not sure whether it would be better to live or die, and opposed by people determined to undermine his leadership. In this situation he wrote four chapters of inspiration summarized by one of his opening statements, “And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18) Paul was leading with joy. He was not simply practicing the power of positive thinking and refusing to acknowledge his situation. Rather, as he saw his life, past, present and future, from God’s perspective he was able to lead with joy.

Paul had considered his past.

Paul had an impressive list of credentials in terms of training and experience. But he also carried the memory of his persecution of the church. Yet he didn’t allow his past to cause him pride or condemnation. Instead he said, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Philippians 3:13) Paul surrendered his past to Christ and moved on. Servant leaders look at their past from God’s perspective, giving God credit for successes and receiving God’s forgiveness for failures. Their joy comes not from what happened in the past, but in God’s grace to redeem their past and use it for a greater good.

To think about: Am I free from my past?

Paul was content in the present.

Paul’s situation would throw most of us into deep despair! Instead, he almost casually mentions his chains and the challenges he was facing. He reveals why he has joy in prison with these words, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12) Paul’s perspective allowed him to recognize that his imprisonment advanced the Gospel and that those who were seeking to destroy his ministry also advanced the cause of Christ. Servant leaders claim the reality that their lives are in God’s hands. Therefore, nothing that happens is out of control or by chance and God works through good and bad times. Many leaders measure their success by visible results but servant leaders learn to be content and rejoice no matter what the circumstances.

To think about: Am I truly content today?

Paul was confident of the future.

Paul’s joy also came from his hope for the future expressed in these words, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) Paul knew that God would finish His work and was so confident of his future that he viewed death as gain! Servant leaders have hope that inspires them to live in the present with joy. This vision of the future is not just positive thinking; it is seeing life from God’s perspective which balances realism with a solid hope.

To think about: Am I keeping my eyes on future realities?

Servant leaders follow Paul’s example to lead with joy as they see life from God’s perspective. This joy is passed on to followers and inspires them to a similar perspective. A joyful leader is a joy to follow.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Take 15 minutes to read the four chapters of Philippians. Circle or underline the words “joy” or “rejoicing” as you read. Pay attention to statements that reveal Paul’s situation as a leader. How does your current situation compare with his?
• When you think of your past, are you more likely to be proud or feel condemned? Reflect on Paul’s words in Philippians 3:4-16. Write a paragraph with your own summary of your past.
• What present circumstances are you in which seem unpleasant? Meditate on Paul’s statement in Philippians 4:11-12. How did Paul learn to be content? In what ways is God teaching you this lesson?
• Meditate on Paul’s view of the future in these verses. (Philippians 1:6, 21-23; 3:20-21). How does your view of the future bring you joy?
• How much do those who follow you see joy in your life? What steps can you take to demonstrate this more clearly to them?