Crisis Management in the Family, Personally, at Work, Anywhere

When we learn of GM and Chrysler’s considering of bankruptcy, on the back of the collapse of world banks, we’re left to ponder what the financial world is coming to. And it would be fine if that’s all it was, but the fact of the matter is it’s the soft option resultant from poor leadership and vision. It hearkens me to the Proverbs 24:10 (NIV) which says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” The Message paraphrase has it, “If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.”

It seems this is the trend the world over, and not just on the Global scale. Many businesses, cities, townships, and indeed families and workers--on the individual scale, are floundering in this day. The root cause is a loss of hope and a failure to negotiate a way through ‘life with crises,’ which seems part and parcel of life in this Century.

Have you ever noticed the littlest things often trip us up? There will always be the temptation to give in to the overwhelmingly powerful moment. Sometimes these moments are good, in that they allow us to vent the internal pressure from within. The ‘straws that break the camel’s back’ are a sign we’re reaching breaking point--and that it’s time to take heed. It’s a warning. Presumably, GM, Chrysler, and Lehman Brothers all felt the quakes coming at several points, yet never took the steps necessary to avert disaster, proving a lack of strategic leadership. How can it now be that these corporations go cap in hand to the U.S. Government, placing inordinate pressure on a President-elect? Let’s hope Obama’s administration is not short on strength. Symptoms and signs that go unheeded are perilous.

Yet, if we forever give in to the temptation to yield to pressure we develop little resilience; that, I think, is what Proverbs is talking about. At the crucial point, what will it be, a standing or a crumbling? What will be the ultimate result?

This is where we must become tactical regarding crises--we all have them. They exist and meet us each day, week, or month--eventually they bite us. It says in Jeremiah 31:25, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Who will? God will. If we allow him. It is perplexing in this day of busyness that there are so many pushing close to their limit. We can’t have it both ways. If we’re burning out, we must respond, or like the banks and car makers we’ll pretty soon become spiritually insolvent! Crises are good in that they are dire warnings that something must be done. And if there’s no response or an incorrect response we’re closer to the catastrophe.

Knowing the difference between what’s a healthy sign for blowing our lids, to resiliently holding on by our very sinews, to the warnings that are ignored in bringing us closer to the day of disaster--in the name (or so-called name) of ‘strength,’ is a sign of wise leadership whether that be on a personal, familial, or organisational level. Bearing up in strength is good only if the strength is real.

The God I know has the power to make strength real. He can impel us forward in hope. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NIV) The God I know can restore our hope when at times it feels crushed; that is of course, if we do not ultimately give up. We might concede a battle, but not the war.

God and crisis management go hand in hand. We must search for ways to allow God to refresh us; if we don’t many of us face a hopeless future. Those who believe can enter the rest of God (Hebrews 4:3) but only in obedience. Let us heed our warnings.

Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.