January 13. You Don't Have To Do That Alone.

As a leader, who helps you when things get tough? There are events in life that seem to grab us sometimes and wrestle us to the ground. When that happens, we might go through a grieving and recovery period.

If people are one’s greatest asset, then we might need people in our sphere of influence and organizations to assist us to achieve a recovery. In a corporation there is a board of directors. Their role is to create a management team to accomplish the business of the organization.

As a leader, do you have a board of directors that works with you? I prefer the use of this term, my "board of effectors". These are people that help me make changes in myself as well as for the benefit of my team.

They have a different perspective that is not judgmental during those troubling times which helps me to work through issues to become stronger. On a board, there is generally a chairperson. My chairperson has a direct role with me as leader.

Regardless of the size of a business, organization, or team, that position of chair on a board of effectors can be an ally to reflect with the leader. What issues are ahead of you in the next ninety days? One does not have to handle it by themselves.

Being able to tag team in a wrestling match allows for recovery, observation and creativity of strategy and tactic. What effecters can you tag to recover faster? If you are missing these types of people in your life, what effecters can you reach out to now, to start the process of becoming one?

If you already have them, does your board need to be expanded? Perhaps someone should have an expanded role. Who is the chair and are you meeting them often enough? The work of leadership does not require one to carry the weight of the world.

Effecters help one to distribute and discard the weight. What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?

As Christians, we have troubling times in our lives as well . But acting as a part of the church, we can be effectors. In Genesis, we read that Isaac, the chosen son of Abraham, had the privilege of having God select a wife for him. A bride from his father’s family from a faraway place.

We know that she was a special person in his life just because of the way they were brought together. But the Bible also says that she was a great relief for him after his mother Sarah died.

Isaac was the leader, but Rebekah was an effector for him, even though she herself was struggling with the issue of bearing children. That was a large concern in her eyes because of the lineage of Abraham being foretold. But she still affected Isaac.

I am not sure that anyone has a right or responsibility to solve my problems. However, I do want to be around those that can affect my outcomes as much as I can by myself? Maybe the first and most diligently pursued right we can practice in our lives, is a right to go to God.

He is the ultimate effector. Another right we could consider is to go to the people of the church to help to affect our progress and outcome. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, dearest Jesus, today I want to pray for all those that are in close relationships. May our spouses and friends know that you want their help as your church. We ask you to help us. Touch our lives in large and little ways. Guide us to love others when they might feel unloved.

Remind us to know that you want us to bring forgiveness when we might think that something is unforgivable. Cast out any unbelief so that we know that in our relationships, a place is reserved for you and your church. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,