The Divine Challenge

Every Divine Challenge begins with a problem.

Leaders solve problems. In many ways, that is what makes them leaders in the first place. One of the most frustrating aspects of leadership is that people continually bring their problems to you.

If you become skilled at solving problems, you will eventually become a leader.

Most problems can be solved with a little research, patience, and thoughtful effort. If you believe you are capable of solving problems and are not afraid of failure, you will eventually overcome challenges and move forward.

But sooner or later, all of us encounter problems we cannot solve on our own.

Failure is simply part of the process of innovation.

In entrepreneurial leadership, failure is not a bad thing. Failure teaches us what does not work.

As we search for solutions to complex problems, we are going to try things that fail. Good. Now try something else.

Then try again.
And again.

The faster you move through failure, the faster you move toward innovation.

Eventually, however, you reach an impasse and find yourself saying, “We are going to have to ask Jesus about this one.”

This part of the process is simple.

If you believe Jesus cares about every problem you face, then you bring those problems to Him. But let me be clear about what I mean by prayer.

Many people offer a quick thirty-second prayer and immediately return to trying to solve the problem themselves. While there is certainly value in that, it is not what I am describing here. In this context, prayer is intentionally setting aside time to ask Jesus what is needed to solve the problem.

The key is positioning yourself to listen.

This step may seem counterintuitive.

When people ask Jesus for help, they usually expect Him to provide a direct answer to their question. The problem is that before we can receive the answer, a perspective shift is often necessary.

We need to see the problem differently in order to see the solution. Jesus creates this shift by challenging our assumptions, agenda, identity, motives, goals, strategies, and countless other things.

His challenge is often deeply personal because it is designed to produce transformation.

– Chuck Whitley

Sometimes

• Sometimes the problem requires us to step into a greater sense of identity because we believe the challenge is bigger than we are.
• Sometimes the answers we seek are connected to goals that made sense last year but no longer make sense today.
• Sometimes there is an issue we have been avoiding that can no longer be ignored. The Lord’s challenge often forces us to confront uncomfortable realities, but that is precisely the point. When we stop avoiding difficult issues and bring them honestly before Jesus, He can reveal His agenda.

Voluntary humility accelerates this process.

If we refuse to humble ourselves, the Lord may use circumstances to bring us there
anyway. That may sound harsh, but in my experience it is actually an act of grace.

Once the perspective shift occurs, one of two things usually happens. Either Jesus
gives us practical steps to solve the problem, or the new perspective empowers us to
solve the problem ourselves using the wisdom and skills we already have.

Often the shift makes the solution seem so obvious that I wonder how I missed it in the
first place. It is almost as if Jesus had already answered the prayer, but I simply lacked the
perspective to see it. The shift opens my eyes to what was there all along.

You can probably see by now how Jesus uses problems to produce transformation in
our lives.

So what is really happening?

Is Jesus simply trying to help us solve our problems or grow our businesses?

Yes — and no.

Problem-solving is a byproduct of transformational growth.

Ultimately, God’s goal is to shape us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Jesus simply uses business challenges to work with business leaders. In the same way, He uses school challenges to work with students, and family challenges to work with parents.

The problem drives us to Jesus, who is able to do what we cannot.

Course correction is less about implementing a solution and more about learning to live from a new perspective.

The shift can feel like you have spent the last six months struggling to keep your head above water, only to find yourself stepping out of the boat and walking on the water toward Jesus.

Things begin to make sense again.

You start looking forward to the next Divine Challenge because you know it will lead to another perspective shift, another transformation, and another level of growth.

The pressure does not necessarily disappear, but your capacity to carry it increases.

Hope returns, and the future begins to look bright again. When this happens, I become aware of how present Jesus has been all along, and I wonder why it took me so long to bring the challenge to Him in the first place.