When in Doubt, Go.

Growing in my intentionality, as both a leader and a disciple-maker, has been one of the more challenging yet rewarding processes of my faith journey. Intentionality requires a clarity of purpose to operate from (the why) as well as a methodology to operate in (the how).

One specific area of intentionality that I have been discipled in and have grown through has been my ability to act intentionally in ministering to others in times of crisis and need. To be quite honest, I was afraid to act in times of crisis and in circumstances in which people were hurting, struggling and in need. I think we can agree that helping others is something we start to embody as Christ followers and lovers of God and others. So, it wasn’t the why of helping in times of crisis and need that I struggled with, it was the how and when that often left me gridlocked and praying that someone else would beat me to the rescue. I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know exactly what they needed, shoot often times the people in crisis don’t know what they need. Is it a good time? Do they want me there? I’ll just text them that I am praying for them and if they need anything to let me know… they never do. What to do?!..

“When in doubt, go.”

“When in doubt, always go.”

“Just. Go.”

“As soon as you know, go”

Words I have learned to love and live by from one of the best pastors I know, Evan Meske. Evan helped disciple me as a pastor and he instilled in me a confidence in crisis and times of need through this simple, intentional, predetermined mindset that every pastor, disciple-maker, friend and follower of Jesus should embrace. When people are in need, go. Just go. Be there. Show up. Be present. When you aren’t sure what the right thing to say is or whether it’s the perfect timing or not, just go. As grateful as I was for the coaching and training from Evan, nothing was more impactful than the time that he actually went… for me.

My appendix was all but ruptured one Sunday morning, our worship services were in full swing, I was about to teach a class on how to study your bible for some of our leaders but instead found myself headed to the ER about to undergo surgery. It was a bit chaotic as you can imagine and before I knew it I was alone waking up in a recovery room in the hospital. My wife was there and was quite unnerved yet thankful I was going to be ok. It was then that Evan walked in. I can’t remember what he said, I couldn’t tell you what time it was, and there wasn’t anything he could do to help my physical condition. None of that mattered at all, and I didn’t care. He was there. He showed up. And that’s all that mattered and all I cared about. It meant the world to me and in that moment, I learned that it means the world to us all in times of crisis and need for someone to simply “go.”

Evan had shared with me that he has “never regretted going, not one single time”… and neither have I.

When in doubt, go

This post originally appeared at: When in doubt, go. – Relational Discipleship Network