In the Days of “Can’t”

“What you CAN do in the days of Coronavirus are the things you can ALWAYS do. And what you can ALWAYS do are the things that are the MOST important.”

So much of our focus these days highlights what we can’t do—

Can’t gather in large groups at church.

Can’t do kids programming.

Can’t plan for next year.

Fair enough. Those are some pretty significant things we can’t do these days. And not doing them is really having an impact on us—in ways that I think we’re still catching up to.

But there’s a whole list of things that we can do—virus or not. Truthfully, they are the most important things for us to do.

Probably, they were the things we weren’t doing before – either as often or as well as we should have been doing.

We're living in the days of can't. But there’s a whole list of things that we can do—virus or not. Truthfully, they are the most important things for us to do. Click To Tweet

We’ll get to the “why” behind that in a second. But let’s get to the “what” first.

Here’s a few things we can (and should!) be doing in the days of “can’t:”

Praying.

Prayer was probably an afterthought at best for a lot of us as leaders pre-virus. Sure, we did it. But it wasn’t the first (much less most important) thing we did. What we did was… work. Try. Diagnose. Solve. Communicate. Lead.

Turns out, the virus put a damper on a lot of those things. But one thing it can’t put a damper on is prayer. In fact, the environment is perfect for prayer.

The virus put a damper on a lot of things. But one thing it can’t put a damper on is prayer. In fact, the environment is perfect for prayer. Click To Tweet

If you’re struggling with the constraints of this virus, uncertainty about the future, a lack of control…

Turns out we’re supposed to be praying about these things.

We need to become leaders who pray first post-virus.

We need to become leaders who pray first post-virus. Click To Tweet

Disciple Making.

Whoa… slow down. Now, we can’t gather. Small groups in homes are iffy. Many restaurants and coffee shops still have their chairs stacked up in a corner. How are we ever going to make disciples without those? (Sensing the sarcasm here?)

How about with your family?

How about digitally?

How about through creative acts of service with your socially distanced neighbor or coworker?

What about a digital invite to your church service?

Like prayer, this was probably another thing for us we weren’t really doing pre-virus. Many of us were creating environments conducive to disciple making—which is so necessary. But, and we all know this as church leaders, we all too often settle for creating environments for disciple making while neglecting the practice of personally making disciples.

All too we often settle for creating environments for disciple making while neglecting the practice of personally making disciples. The virus is constraining the environments—not the practice. Click To Tweet

And it’s not as though those two things are mutually exclusive. But the virus is constraining the environments—not the practice.

Soul Care.

More shocking news: the virus can only make you physically unhealthy—it can’t touch your soul.

Of course, this is not to say that our souls aren’t being impacted by the days we’re living through. They absolutely are.

But the virus does not impact in any way our ability to care for our own souls.

In reality, the virus could be creating the perfect environment for you to care for your own soul, if you’re willing to take advantage of the opportunity.

The virus could be creating the perfect environment for you to care for your own soul, if you’re willing to take advantage of the opportunity. Click To Tweet

Many of us are no longer commuting, or commuting less often. What could you do with that time? Silence? Prayer? Meditation?

Weekends have become much less intensive. Ever try a Sabbath?

Tele-counseling. Virtual coaching networks. More time around the house to read or write. More white space in the calendar to retreat.

This season could be one of the healthiest you experience—if you choose to create that for yourself.

This season could be one of the healthiest you experience—if you choose to create that for yourself. Click To Tweet

So there’s some of the “whats.” There’s a lot we could be doing these days.

But why aren’t we?

I don’t know about you; but these and a lot of other “whats” have been making their rounds through podcasts and news articles and blogs for the past couple of months. It’s not as though I’ve said anything above that’s new to you.

But maybe, like me…

You haven’t been doing them.

And maybe, like me…

You’re wondering: Why?

Why aren’t we praying more? Doing more disciple making? Caring for our souls more intentionally?

When I ask myself those questions, I’m forced to admit something that I don’t want to be true of me… but nevertheless is:

It’s because I don’t really want to.

Ugh.

You know what I’d rather do?

• Set some targets for next year, and then work on strategies.
• Figure out how to improve some of our environments.
• Diagnose and then pour some fresh innovation into ministry programs.

And to be clear: those aren’t bad things. They’re not. I refuse to pit those against the “real” mission—whatever that is. There’s only one mission. And we’ve got to do everything with Jesus’ power to achieve it.

But maybe, like me, you’ve settled for doing the parts of the mission that you like and have neglected the other parts you don’t.

And maybe, like me, you’re coming to the realization that doing only the parts of the mission you like isn’t gonna get it done.

Here’s the good news:

If you lean into some of these other “whats,” what you’ll find is that you’ll actually like doing them.

Why?

Because you have the Holy Spirit inside of you who is re-shaping what you like. And with the Spirit, sometimes obedience comes first and the desire follows after.

With the Spirit, sometimes obedience comes first and the desire follows after. Click To Tweet

But just think:

How formidable for the kingdom would we be if we didn’t just:

• Create environments
• Tweak programs
• Planned for the future?

But we also:

• Prayed
• Made disciples
• Cared for our souls

At some point we won’t be living in the “Days of Can’t.” But the “Days of Can”—whenever they come—will need a different kind of leader.

Let the “Days of Can’t” give you that gift.