Commentary: From adversity to action

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Not all opportunities present themselves as such. One showed up recently as a record-setting snowfall, and a good dose of ice that canceled most church services in our neck of the woods. My home church did not cancel services (no judgment here for those who did cancel because it is always a difficult decision).   

By the grace of God, we were able to gather, celebrate baptisms, sing songs, give our tithes and offerings, and hear a solid (shortened) message from our pastor before being dismissed to return to our homes as the snow was covering the roads outside. 

It was what happened at the end of our pastor’s sermon that caught my attention. He asked our congregation to think about how we could serve others who were impacted by the snow. Then he organized several men in the church to go into the community the next week to shovel driveways and sidewalks for those unable to do that for themselves. He took a challenging situation and discovered an opportunity to minister to our community in an effective, and potentially gospel-advancing way. 

How can we unwrap the opportunity that may be hidden inside a current challenge we are facing? 

1. Pray and ask God for wisdom: James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” When things are not going as you may have hoped, let that reality be a trigger for prayer. In the Bible book of Nehemiah, the impetus for the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem came after Nehemiah heard a troubling report on the condition of his people and then he earnestly sought the Lord in prayer. God will show us how to see the opportunities He is bringing to us.  

2. Gather counsel from others: Sometimes asking questions can stimulate collaborative thinking resulting in a God-directed plan. I recall a story from a church that was on the verge of canceling scheduled revival services because of an unexpected event in the community that would negatively impact attendance. As the church discussed the decision, it chose instead to work extra hard to bring outsiders in. The discussion and hard work resulted in a harvest of souls like the church had never seen before or since.

3. Journal your own thoughts: Journaling can be cathartic. As a practice when facing unexpected challenges, the exercise of writing down your problem with a pen on paper can be useful in generating ideas to become unstuck. I am currently thinking through a ministry area that feels stagnant to me, and I have found it helpful to write about it. Writing seems to unlock my brain to think about problems differently than doing anything else. Give it a try if your life or ministry feels stuck in some way.  

4. Notice what others are doing: Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that iron sharpens iron and that we benefit profoundly from healthy friendships. Spending time with other leaders who are managing various challenges can help us think through our own problems and possibly see new opportunities that we may have missed. I meet twice a year with a group of men who do the same work I do. I leave those meetings each time strengthened and encouraged to discover new ways to carry out our work.  

5. Try something new: We may never know who originally said, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination,” but we can attest to the accuracy of their advice. The statement is a good reminder that we may need to adjust our strategy and tactics to the circumstances we are facing. Most churches today can stream their worship services online because of the challenges faced in communicating their message during the COVID-19 pandemic experience of 2020. 

What problems are you facing today in advancing your mission and vision? What is happening that you did not foresee? Consider using some of the advice listed above to get unstuck and move forward in your ministry leadership assignment.

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Todd Gray is executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. This commentary first appeared in Kentucky Today.