In the last few years, leaders have found themselves with seemingly endless challenges and crises to navigate. As Christians in leadership, it can be even more difficult to effectively lead through tragedy and troubling situations while still maintaining our values and upholding our faith.
It’s essential for us as Christian leaders to stay rooted in Christ and His Word, and to continually seek His will for our teams and organizations. But how do we do that?
Here are three strategies for dealing with tragedy as a Christian leader.
1. Empathize with those around you.
As leaders, it’s crucial that we take time to acknowledge and care for our team members’ emotions. And as Christians, we have a strong example of how to do so.
When faced with the loss of a dear friend and surrounded by his weeping loved ones, Christ joined in their sorrow.
John 11:33 says that “When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Two verses later, we find one of the most well-known, and shortest verses in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (verse 35).
The Lord is near to His people in hardship and moved by their emotions throughout the Old and New Testaments, including in Psalm 34:18, which reads “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
If we are going to emulate Christ in our leadership, we need to allow ourselves to be sensitive and empathetic to others’ emotions, just as He was. We need to show compassion to our team members who are hurting and come alongside them and support them. We can do this by acknowledging the difficult emotions our team members are experiencing as a group and on a personal level.
Be sure to make yourself available for one-on-one meetings and check-ins, and regularly ask how your employees are doing. Take time to discuss the situation in a group meeting and offer to answer any questions your team may have. Even if you don’t have all the answers, letting your team ask the hard questions and share how they’re feeling with each other will help create an environment of compassion and empathy.
2. Remember where your hope comes from.
While it’s essential to empathize with and support our teams, we need to remember that we can’t do it alone.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 refers to the Lord as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…”
There are dozens if not hundreds of other verses in the Bible that remind us that Christ alone is our source of strength, regardless of what we’re facing. In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord tells us not to fear because He is with us, and that He will “strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” In Psalm 73:26, David writes, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
As Christian leaders, we can take heart knowing that Christ will be with us and give us the strength we need in times of uncertainty. We must prioritize staying centered on Him through time in His Word and in prayer. Make a point to speak with trusted mentors and counselors who can encourage you and support you, and ask for them to pray for you. Only by staying rooted in Christ will we find the strength we need to lead through tragedy.
3. Be an example to your team.
In times of tragedy, your team will look to you more than at any other time, so it’s crucial that you set a firm example for them to follow.
2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that God comforts us “…so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
By staying fixed on Christ, we can be strong, calm leaders in times of crisis. Take time to express how you’re feeling about the situation, and share how you’re personally dealing with it. From there, you can be a sounding board for your team members who are struggling and offer support from a place of honesty and compassion.
Once you have a firm understanding of where everybody is, be intentional about creating a clear path forward with a vision for the future. By remaining open and steady, with concern for the present reality and hope for the future, your team will see that you can be trusted to lead through tragedy and uncertain times.
While our circumstances may be ever changing, we can be confident that we have a firm foundation in Christ. Hebrews 13:8 assures us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” and James 1:17 refers to the Lord as “the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Remember that no matter what you’re facing, you can trust in God to guide and direct you, and that He will be with you. You don’t have to face challenges alone.