I have recently found myself in a season of stretching, leading our church through an outreach campaign as we launch a second campus. It has been a lot of work, but very fulfilling and rewarding. It’s also been challenging me to step out of my own comfort zone when it comes to sharing Christ and engaging people with the gospel.
But I have also been *trying* to be mindful of a few things as a leader as it relates to the seasons of stretching we all face in life and leadership. Below is a list of five things to remember in a season of stretching. But before reading through them, take a moment and read this invitation from Jesus slowly:
“28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.“ (Isaiah 54:2)
During seasons of stretching:
1) Don’t forget the SABBATH.
Take your day off. I have one friend who says, “Don’t forget to Sabbath.” Meaning, in seasons when taking an entire day off feels impossible, we can at least block out 2-4 hours a week for Sabbath—to rest and refuel. I have another friend who defines the Sabbath as a single 24-hour period that can span two days. He takes his Sabbath from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. However you choose to rest, don’t sacrifice it in seasons of stretching. If you do, you will find that not resting is counterproductive and works against the very work you are trying to accomplish.
2) Don’t forget the word “SCALABILITY”
I have lived by this word recently. Big visions can be scaled and don’t have to happen overnight. Marathons are still accomplished one step at a time—even though the marathon itself might be a major stretch. Plot out a step-by-step plan strategically. Put benchmarks on a calendar. Consider who is around you to help accomplish the vision. But scale it, one step at a time, and be okay with recalibrating a few times along the way.
3) Don’t forget STRUCTURE in seasons of STRETCHING.
When you stretch as an individual or as a church or business, your strength lies in your structure and systems. As previously mentioned, it is okay to scale these systems over time, but failure to implement any structure will result in a thin foundation that will easily crack under pressure. What are you doing to empower others to help carry the weight of the vision? What system of organization and communication do you use? What are you doing to ensure financial health as you, your church, and your company stretch to the next level? Who have you given permission to speak into your vision and coach you, encourage you, and hold you accountable?
4) Don’t forget your SPIRITUAL LIFE in a season of STRETCHING.
This could have been a final question under point #3, but it is worthy as a stand-alone point. Jesus said in Matthew 28, “Come to me.” How often do you come to Him as your source of strength for life and leadership? Are you allowing Him to fill your cup each day? Are you like King David, who was in the constant habit of “inquiring of the Lord” and seeking Him first for wisdom rather than leaning into your own assumptions? Are you prayerful before you pursue something? Do you pause and hear from God before throwing caution to the wind and stepping out in your own strength, guided by your own mind? We need to make sure our current spiritual life will sustain us if we are going to engage in a season of stretching.
5) Don’t forget that STRETCHING must result in some form of SIMPLICITY for the leader.
By simplicity, I don’t mean the stretching is easy. I mean that if the first four items on this list are embraced, the leader’s focus should become narrower, even if his or her vision is to broaden the scope of impact or work. In this season of leading our church through this outreach campaign, I have narrowed my week down to three main things: missions, men’s ministry, and my message. I’m leading by example with outreach, connecting with different men in the church 2-3 times a week, and spending more time on my weekly messages. I am trusting the leaders around me more, ensuring my staff develop additional lay leaders, and delegating like never before. Prior to jumping into an initiative that will stretch you, narrow your focus on the main 2-3 things you should be doing in the season you are in as a leader through your initiative.
I am grateful to grow through stretching both personally and in ministry, and I’m sure you share my sentiment. But may this season of stretching also produce for us the fruit of coming to Him and finding rest.
