By Jean Roberson
It’s funny what crisis can do to you. You learn so many things about yourself that you never really knew. I am thinking specifically about the current national economic crisis and how it has affected my workplace and family.
It is true that in times of crisis, you hold firmly to what you know.
You cling to what has been successful for you in the past. You hold tightly to ways of operating.
Unfortunately, for me — and many of us — holding tightly to ways of operating soon begins to cross the line into controlling. Then we have to deal with that word — trust.
Let me explain.
I look around at my family and colleagues, and I know I can be trusted. I can be trusted to do a good job. I can be trusted because I am committed. I can be trusted because I share a vision of what our family or work can be. I can be trusted because I care.
If I discovered that someone did not trust me in these things, then I would be hurt. I would be hurt because I know me.
However, I have to ask myself, as much as I want to be trusted in these things, do I trust others? Do I trust the people around me?
Enter the crisis.
Finances are not the same. Work is not the same. Savings are not the same. Stability is not the same. Relationships are not the same. Needs are not the same.
I hold tightly to what I know. I cling to what has been successful in the past. I trust in myself because I know me.
Unfortunately, in an effort to do what I believe is right, I alienate those around me. In this time of crisis, I speak more than I listen. I tell others what to do more than I work alongside them to solve problems. I become controlling and almost distrustful of others.
If you were to identify the greatest crisis in the Scripture, then what would it be? I would choose when Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus was leaving.
The Law, the old way of drawing close to God, had been turned on its ear. Only a small group believed. What would happen? What did happen? Would it be accurate to say God trusted others to accomplish His will?
Certainly the Holy Spirit continued to guide, but the message was entrusted to a small group of people. They were imperfect people, to be sure. Still they became an active part of the process of sharing the news that Jesus saves.
What would happen if I follow that example?
A Takeaway Value …
God has called me to my life, but He also has called the people around me.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Jean Roberson, MSW, LCSW, is a ministry consultant for national Woman’s Missionary Union. She serves as team leader for the adult team and director of Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps and International Initiatives.
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