The title of a recent article in the Wall Street Journal read, “America is reopening to tension: Easing restrictions is in some ways turning out to be more divisive than shutting down.” I find this statement to be painfully accurate as I listen to pastors and other ministry leaders. The first few weeks of the covid-19 pandemic were difficult, but regathering poses even bigger challenges now and in the weeks to come.

Why? In the first days of the pandemic, most churches and ministries shifted to 100% online. It wasn’t easy, but the steps to make the transition were relatively clear. Now we’ve entered a season of “in between” where the best path to take is much less obvious and the demands on leaders will be even greater than before.

Church and ministry leaders are finding themselves in between:

• Competing pressures to fully reopen and to remain closed, with a variety of other options in the middle. The people on both ends of this spectrum are often vocal and uncompromising, making it impossible to please everyone.
• Continuing online excellence while ramping up on-site offerings. A “hybrid” model (online and on-site) may sound like a great solution. But the cost required to accomplish this both/and approach can be weighty for leaders who already feel overwhelmed.
• Short-term tactical decisions and long-term creative ones. It’s easy to get whiplash going from questions about requiring masks to imaging what ministry should look like in a year (and how to prepare for that now). Both kinds of discussions are necessary and time consuming. 
• “We’ll eventually get back to normal” and “Ministry will never be the same again.” In those moments when you try to engage a team in creative conversations about the future, you may encounter a confused look or someone asking, “Why do we need to change?” 

I don’t have an easy solution for how to lead well during this in between season. But I am certain that the path forward begins with naming the stress and fatigue that you’re feeling. It requires pausing long enough to take inventory and to stop doing things that drain your energy and produce little fruit. It means making the best decisions you can (with your team) and then extending grace (to yourself and them) if you get it wrong. And it calls for carving out moments to rest – even though you “don’t have time” – because the “new normal” may be a long season of in between. 

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There is always a price to be paid in leadership. In stressful and uncertain times, when leaders need to step up more than ever, that price tends to be much higher. But just like a car engine, if you run above the red line for too long, damage will occur.

So how can you lead well in a chaotic time AND stay below the red line? 

• Lean on wise advisers. Do you find yourself saying or thinking, “It all depends on me”? That’s a sure sign that you’re shouldering too much of the burden on your own. If you’re in the first chair, the buck may ultimately stop on your desk, but that doesn’t mean you have to operate solo. In turbulent times, it is especially important to seek counsel from others. 
• Vent to trusted friends. Beyond wise advisers, leaders in high stress seasons often need to talk with people outside their contexts. As the pressure mounts, conversations with a counselor, coach, or trusted friend can help you reduce stress, regain perspective, and recharge for what’s ahead. Think of these friends as a resource for lowering your leadership RPM’s below the red line.
• Commit to physical wellness. We think of stress primarily in emotional terms, but it has a significant physical component as well. Rather than getting less sleep because you’re so busy, make it a priority to get more sleep. The same is true for physical exercise – running, swimming, biking, etc. If you haven’t had an exercise regimen, at least take daily walks. It’s amazing how much your stress will be lowered and your mind recharged with even 30 minutes of physical activity. 
• Elevate your spiritual disciplines. The greatest power for leading in chaos comes from above. It is tempting to spend less time reading Scripture, praying, or engaging in spiritual disciplines when there are so many demands on our time. But these are the practices that can provide the wisdom, perspective, and peace that we desperately need. Remember the words of Martin Luther: “I have so much to do that I must spend the first three hours in prayer.” 

I doubt that this blog has said anything you don’t already know, but maybe it’s reminded you of something you need to do. You may want to forward it to a friend, either to ask for their support or to encourage them to lead below the red line.

In closing, I will share the verse that I keep reflecting on right now: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5). 

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