{"id":32221,"date":"2022-09-10T16:01:09","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/6-ways-to-lead-people-through-crisis\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:01:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:01:09","slug":"6-ways-to-lead-people-through-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/6-ways-to-lead-people-through-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Lead People Through Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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rawpixel photo – Unsplash<\/div>\n

By Jamie Aten<\/em><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t just study disasters\u2014I\u2019ve lived disasters. Hurricane Katrina struck my community just six days after I moved to South Mississippi. I started helping just weeks after the storm and went on to dedicate my career to helping others survive and recover from all sorts of mass disasters.<\/p>\n

Then at age 35 I faced my own personal disaster after being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. I am grateful that I have had no evidence of disease since my last cancer treatment nearly five years ago.<\/p>\n

But now, I am passionate about helping leaders understand and know how to navigate crises, both personally and alongside a community.<\/p>\n

There is no shortage of crisis in the church right now, which is why we need strong leaders who can help people navigate trauma and disaster. Speaking personally and professionally, here\u2019s what I recommend:<\/p>\n

1. Cling to faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We must be reminded of the simple truth\u2014keep praying and talking to God when crisis hits. Strive for meaning\u2014through journaling, prayer, Scripture reading, and conversations with those you trust\u2014especially when suffering feels senseless.<\/p>\n

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We must lead people facing crisis to be honest with yourself about what you can and can\u2019t control: do what you can and give up the rest to God. This requires a willful obedient faith, not a passive faith. Choosing to embrace trust and contentment, no matter the outcome, allows us to enter into God\u2019s loving presence more deeply.<\/p>\n

This sort of spiritual surrender comes not from changed circumstances\u2014but rather changed hearts and minds\u2014it reconciles our desires with current reality while sustaining hope for what could be.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t try and ride out the disaster or rebuild alone<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When we find ourselves in a full-scale disaster we must let others know, so make sure people know you\u2019re available when crisis hits and how to ask for help. Look for people on your team you can train and empower to meet needs. Don\u2019t be afraid to reach out to your church and church leaders to help.<\/p>\n

The sooner people admit they need help the sooner your help can be received. Build a culture and cultivate a safe environment\u2014one that values trust and confidentiality.<\/p>\n

And when people mess up or they choose not to share, be cautious not to let unforgiveness pile on more debris to the wreckage they find themselves under.<\/p>\n

3. Give them permission to lament<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to grieve emotionally and spiritually for what you are going through\u2014and what you fear is ahead. It\u2019s okay to be scared, anxious, sad, angry, and confused.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s you in the crisis, or someone you lead, allow time to lament. This means letting down their guard down and giving themselves permission to let go of the burden they\u2019ve been carrying.<\/p>\n

When pushing back against the pain doesn\u2019t work, try accepting the pain. We all need to share our pain with God, especially our anger and doubts.<\/p>\n

Encourage your people to seek out others, like friends, family, church leaders, or professional helpers who can sit with them in their suffering. Through trial and error, try to encourage them to find healthy ways to cope so they\u2019re not stuck or consumed by the sorrow.<\/p>\n

4. Be optimistic\u2014but more importantly\u2014be hopeful<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Keeping a positive outlook can help sustain you when the odds are against you\u2014and if you maintain this attitude, it will rub off on those you lead. I truly believe my optimism through my cancer journey played an important role in my survival.<\/p>\n

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See also  8 Ways to Persevere in Ministry<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Embrace hope, but be wary of being hoodwinked by \u201cpathological\u201d optimism. The two are very different. Jurgen Moltmann wrote, \u201cGenuine hope is not blind optimism. It is hope with open eyes, which sees the suffering and yet believes in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

When my optimism shifted from healthy to pathological, denial rose up its ugly head causing me to minimize not only my suffering but the suffering of others closest to me, namely my wife and my girls.<\/p>\n

There were times it kept me from living in the moment, from not acting when I should have acted, and remaining unchanged when I needed to change. If my health had not made a turn for the better it could have very well robbed me from saying goodbye to my loved ones well.<\/p>\n

5. Establish new life rhythms <\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re leading someone facing crisis, encourage them to find ways to do what gives them life. Shortly after starting my cancer treatments I discovered I was going to have to find new life rhythms.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t do the same things I had always done that brought joy. I rarely had the strength to leave the house but I could still spend time with my wife and daughters at home.<\/p>\n

I rarely could attend my faith community gatherings, but I could still pray from my bed.<\/p>\n

I could rarely work, but every once in a while, I could write a few paragraphs.<\/p>\n

This will be common for people facing crisis, and the more leaders can help people establish these new life rhythms, both inside and outside of the church, the more supported they\u2019ll feel.<\/p>\n

6. Find your new normal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Be patient with yourself if you\u2019re in a crisis, and with your people if they\u2019re the ones facing disaster. Encourage them to rely on God and community to carry them through times when they lack the strength.<\/p>\n

Find ways to still do good in the midst of your suffering, even if something seemingly small or trivial. There are many ways to still do good in the midst of suffering, and as a leader, your encouragement in that way is powerful. Even something seemingly small or trivial can be extremely powerful.<\/p>\n

We must practice self-compassion when we need to recalibrate and redefine what accomplishments and goals look like. Even when we don\u2019t know what tomorrow holds\u2014especially when things look the bleakest\u2014keep going (or trying) forward. Help them discern when immediately returning to \u201cnormal\u201d isn\u2019t in the cards.<\/p>\n

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Jamie Aten<\/h2>\n

@drjamieaten<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Jamie is the founder and executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute and Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College and the author and editor of several books, including A Walking Disaster: What Surviving Katrina and Cancer Taught Me About Faith and Resilience<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n