Courageous Conversations

Good leaders learn to move with great efficiency and speed. It can be helpful if used wisely. You sort through facts quickly and come up the answer or solution. No procrastinating here. Time is money. Right? While this can be a sound approach, it is not always the best way to treat others. This is especially true if we aren’t responsive to the needs those around us and quickly move on to something else. From his book Life Promises for Leaders, Zig Ziglar shares an important example from God’s Word of how we should respond:

Most of us spend our lives trying to project an image of beauty and competence. Nehemiah had a plum job. He was working closely with the king and lived a life of luxury. His heart, though, beat in unison with God’s heart. He cared about things God cares about, and when he heard that people in Jerusalem were suffering, his heart broke. He didn’t minimize the problem, and he didn’t fly into a panic of mindless activity. Instead, he let the brutal truth sink in, and he responded appropriately: He sat down and wept.

Nehemiah had a courageous conversation with the messenger, then he had a courageous conversation with God. Only courageous people are known for their honesty. It’s a lot easier to look the other way when we see needs in our lives or in the lives of people around us. We can give the excuse that we’ve tried as hard as we can or that we don’t have time to help a person in need but excuses don’t cut it. Like Nehemiah, we need to let the truth sink into our hearts so we can respond with genuine compassion.

What are some needs on your own life and the lives of those around you?

How would being honest about those needs become a springboard for change?

See Nehemiah 1.

Take A Look

2 Thessalonians 3:5

Galatians 6:9

Philippians 2:13

—Mike