Convert Retreat into Advance

It’s near the end of March 2020 and this year has already seen a full years worth of crises and tragedy. While I write we are in the midst of the Covid-19 social distancing shut down and a big scary bull market for the economy.

I’ve heard a lot of people replaying President Franklin Roosevelts Speech where he states “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” Its great because there is definitely a lot of fear in the air and its always good to get pumped up by some wartime rhetoric. Anyway, he goes on to say in that speech that one must “Convert Retreat into Advance,” and that is the line that turned my ears hot.

Thats the kind of line that has me give a little bit more when I feel like I have nothing left.

When the Israelites stood in the shadows of Goliath and the Philistines during a forty day stalemate, there seemed to be not a soul that could rise to FDR’s charge. Until, a young scraggly, unexpectant shepherd boy that played to the tune of his own harp showed up. You get it, I’m referencing the David and Goliath story.

Heres what I want you to take away. When David showed up volunteering to fight Goliath, obviously everybody thought he was crazy. His brothers even mocked him. But the king honestly didn’t have much of an option so he told David to follow him and began to put his own armor on David.

Here’s the most important part. David Refused to put on King Davids armor…in fact though he was going to fight Goliath 1v1, he refused to do it the traditional way everyone expected. David showed up to a party of retreat, he saw a huge problem, and chose to advance with innovation. David used his sling to defeat Goliath. A SLING.

No one was doing that. But it led to victory and ultimately David stepping into his destiny.

As a leader, you should be whistling a different tune right now. Now is the time, not to shrink, but to stand tall. What innovations can you think of? How can you be creative in a time of Crises? In your family, your church, or your career.

Use today as an opportunity to convert retreat into advance.