On this Good Friday, I wanted to share a personal message with our clients, fellow business leaders, colleagues and friends. I want you to know that I am praying for you in your roles as you lead your teams and organizations.

I imagine that worry, anxiety and regret are at least three of the many emotions you must be dealing with right now. You may have family, friends, student-athletes, staff or coaches who have been infected with this virus, or you worry that they may be. You must be facing tough decisions as a leader as a result of revenue losses or budget cuts. We may face more tough decisions ahead.

By way of this note, I want you to know that I see you as a leader, and I am empathetic to the demands of the role that God has called you to.

In this time of uncertainty and stress—this moment when true character is revealed, I wanted to offer you encouragement. Accept these ideas as pragmatic tokens of a prayer offering for you—gestures of encouragement on this Good Friday and Easter weekend.

SCRIPTURE: First, a gentle reminder from Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

MESSAGE: If you want to hear someone much more articulate than I am offer a perspective on this, listen to Pastor Darren Whitehead, from Church of the City in Franklin, TN, describe the “I AM” statement of Jesus being our good shepherd {tip: start at the 48:10 min mark in the video or podcast if you need to cut to the chase}.

MUSIC: Church of the City’s worship album that features originals from my friend Jon Reddick. You Keep Hope Alive and God, Turn it Around serve as my prayers for you and for all of us when I don’t know what else to pray.

FOR YOUR TEAM: Dr. Price Pritchett has a more secular and psychology-based free audio book The Unfolding that might be helpful for your people to listen to. It offers an approach to help them avoid feeling like a victim, jettison reactions that self-sabotage, and employ strategies for “waiting productively” during uncertain times.

FOR YOU AS A LEADER: Take 17 minutes and 28 seconds and listen to Andy Stanley’s Leading in Uncertain Times Podcast. His bottom line: Uncertainty surfaces the need for leadership. Leaders need to offer their teams three things:

Clarity
Flexibility
Transparency
Easter is the season of renewal, of rebirth and resurrection. This season reminds us that after the winter comes the spring. After the darkness and death comes new life.

There is still A LOT of uncertainty. What is certain is that God is our Good Shepherd. We have people near us who love us no matter what. Maybe, sheltering at home has reminded us of those things that really matter. God has a purpose for you as a leader. I pray that He might renew your energy as you lead your people. I pray that you are encouraged. I pray that you demonstrate a character of purpose and a presence of peace amidst the uncertainty.

You hopefully think of me and our firm as empathetic listeners. Good leaders should be good listeners, which leads to true compassion. I encourage you to seek ways to accept and acknowledge how our staff, recruits, families and friends are suffering and to apply wisdom to find ways to transform this moment for the better.

Let us know if we can help.

—–John