Last week, we learned that the most successful leaders anticipate problems in the messy middle. Paul showed us that we should accept that problems are inevitable and that they affect us personally. However, we must rely on God’s protection and trust that problems have a purpose.
We all will face the messy middle at some time or another in our careers. This week, I want to explore six things we need to do when we find ourselves stuck in the messy middle! Again, we turn to the Apostle Paul and his letter of advice to the Corinthians.
1. Be Confident in Your Calling
Paul tells the Corinthians, “Since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:2). There is no doubt in Paul’s mind that God had called him to this specific ministry, and nothing would shake his confidence or cause him to lose heart.
We must be confident in our calling because a lack of confidence will cause the messy middle problems to cause us to be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind” (Ephesians 4:14).
2. Be Honest and Avoid Shortcuts
Amid the messy middle problems, it might be tempting to be less than completely honest or take shortcuts, but Paul exhorts the Corinthians, “We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).
We must remember that our example is there for all the world to see. Shading the truth or deceiving others while working through difficult situations is never acceptable.
3. Affirm Your Why
Paul stayed the coursed throughout all the trials of his life because he never lost sight of his “why.” Paul said, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, …for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Paul always kept his ultimate goal in sight; to preach the Gospel. What motivated Paul to endure, his why, was “for Jesus’ sake.”
Leaders who lose sight of their “why” are apt to lose their motivation. Once our motivation is gone and we’ve forgotten why we started in the first place, the problems of the messy middle will win the day.
4. Remain Humble and Rely on God’s Power
Despite his status as a senior apostle, Paul remained humble and acutely aware that the goal of preaching the Gospel was bigger than himself, and the only way it could be achieved was through God’s power. He said, “…we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Leaders struggling through a forest of problems tend to let their egos drive their actions. “I can do this,” they think, or they tell themselves, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” In reality, the only power strong enough to navigate the messy middle successfully is God’s power, not ours!
5. Give God the Glory
Paul wanted no parades thrown in his honor. He never expected standing ovations in response to his oratory skill. Paul wanted people to respond to the Gospel message, and for this, he gave God the glory. He said, “…the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Successful leaders confronted by problems in the messy middle want to succeed to the benefit of others and do so in a way that gives glory to God.
6. Stay Focused on Your Goal
Paul concluded by emphasizing the importance of keeping our focus on the end goal. He said, “…we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
There were eternal implications in presenting the Gospel to people; they came into a relationship with Jesus and assured their eternal salvation. In Paul’s mind, this eternal perspective and focus enabled him to survive every trial he faced.
The only way to survive and thrive amid the messy middle problems is to stay focused on the ultimate goal. In Paul’s case, his focus and ultimate goal was presenting the Gospel, so people’s salvation was assured.
Your Ministry in the Workplace
Many of you reading this advice from Paul may think, “Well, that’s true for Paul. He was an evangelist called by God.” You may also think this advice applies to your pastor or the “ministry professionals.”
I want to disabuse you of that idea. Your workplace is your ministry field. It is where God has called you to represent His truth to a fallen world. Your role as a light to the world (Matthew 5:14) is as critical today as Paul’s call was to his world then.
More Articles
I have written several articles on self-discipline. You can find them by typing “self-discipline” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #470: 7 Essential Strategies for Leading in Uncertain Times
- #455: How Do Smart Godly Leaders Cultivate Their Leadership Soil?
- #452: How to Deal Responsibly with Two Kinds of Limits in Your Life!
- #380: What One Thing Do You Need to Do to Start Winning?
- #361: What Can You Do If the Battle is Unavoidable?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Are you surviving and thriving through the problems of the messy middle of your life, or are you struggling and ready to give up?
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Category: Personal Development | Self-Discipline
It’s appropriate that “Be confident in your calling” is the first example. I knew a few people who entered the messy middle of their career and realized they were on the wrong path. It’s a hard thing to realize that, after many years, you’re in the wrong calling. The people I knew left the law enforcement profession. One entered teaching, and another went into business. Of course, nothing is wasted. The experiences and skilled they gained in police work benefited them in their new profession. We might wonder why some people seemingly spend half a career in the wrong calling, but then, God sometimes works in mysterious ways. Thanks Ron, have a great week!
Like you, I’ve known several folks who had the courage to switch careers mid-stream when they realized their skills and passions lay in a different field. Even though the fields were unrelated, their experiences in the first job helped them be successful in the second!