It’s funny how executive leadership coaching works. Senior managers tell me of their troubles and challenges. Yet, often, they already know the answers and solutions. Sometimes they just want to tell someone with a listening ear, sometimes to double-check their thinking, and sometimes, to have someone hold them accountable.
On this day, with deep emotion, she expressed her challenges at work. Then she gave me the answer. It impacted me personally, so I wrote it down to share with you:
“Sometimes God calms the storm; At other times, God lets the storm rage And calms His child”
We have a notion of God and Faith saying YES to our prayers. If we just believe enough and trust in God, He will make our problems go away. Be prepared for the times when He leaves the problems intact and works on you!
QUESTIONS:
- Does the principle above apply only to religious persons?
- In a world where success is defined to include crafting a clear vision of the future and pushing ahead with persistence, how do you determine when to stop pushing and work on you?
Review the comments from last week’s edition: CLICK HERE
Get your own weekly copy of the PowerPak: SUBSCRIBE HERE.
I believe that the statement refers to both religious and non religious persons. Everyone faces issues, every one has ups and downs but sometimes certain situations won’t calm down and in turn we have to calm ourselves and remain at peace while other times situations do calm down.
Pushing ahead with determination can become tiring and difficult but if overtime there is no progress or a long stall in which you are losing your inner peace, patience, and there are red flags pointing you away from the situation. I think it is best to let go and find a new direction.
In a world where success is defined to include crafting a clear vision of the future and pushing ahead with persistence, how do you determine when to stop pushing and work on you?
Personally I believe that this is one of the major accomplishments of Generation Z. This generation is heavily built on the foundations of making when to work on ‘you’. I believe that Gen Z redefines what success is and is heavily focuses on self care and self development. As such I believe that since this new century, knowing when to work on ‘you’ has become a lot easier and almost like second nature.
I think those who practice faith would be more affected by the statement, as non-practicing believers would simply assume that it’s karma or the universe or maybe “it is just what it is”. In relation to success being characterized by a “clear vision” I think success is not linear and can come in many/ simplest forms. People dedicate their entire life to achieving financial success, only to discover that when that success arrives, they are not happy. Obviously everyone wants to be able to afford things and enjoy fine things in life but people tend to neglect the emotional sides. I think it’s crucial to carefully consider how you may lead a life that is profoundly filled with joy and meaning in all you do, rather than merely the outward trappings of “success.”
The statement would seem to have more of an impact on persons who are religious more than those who aren’t religious. People who do not practice faith would not perceive it as a wait and let the Lord handle it issue; rather, they would believe that this is exactly as everything was supposed to go. In regards to knowing when its time to take a step back from the vision you once had for yourself, I say that you know when you feel exhausted at every turn and always question if you are doing the correct thing. Many people devote their entire life to achieving success, but along they way they have forgotten to take care of other aspects of life and when that success finally materializes, if it even does they lose their feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Hi Jonelle, interesting thought that it applies less to the non-religious. I wonder what they would say about that?
Interesting thoughts ladies. It’s nice to see a group of young people pondering these issues. It renews my faith.
I believe that religion is a major influence on people’s values, but I don’t think this is a claim that is exclusive to religious individuals. It might affect religious people more profoundly. Yes, however some people might only utilize it as a source of inspiration; they might find value in the moral principle and teachings irrespective of their religious views.
Many of us define success by how hard we push to achieve our goals, yet we neglect to look after our inner peace. I think that keeping balance requires understanding when to give up and concentrate on improving oneself. When we feel overwhelmed or worn out, it’s possible that we ignore ourselves since we have a tendency to push ourselves too much. If this is the case, it’s time to take a break, think things through, and invest in our development. I believe In the long run, taking breaks can result in increased performance and fulfillment.
For me overall this statement can be for the general public. Even in the workspace you find that sometimes when your being tormented by a coworker or supervisor you find that after a while you get immune to it, that it no longer affects you. It’s not the problem or issue is no longer there, but you learn how to accept or just to deal with the issue and sometimes it works that your tormentor is either humbled or removed and you are at peace.
Your comment has profound implications, Abbie-Gail: Your ability to find peace, emotional stability or wellbeing of any sort, lies not in changing the unfavorable circumstances around you, it lies in changing you.
Reflecting on the profound insight shared by a colleague during a coaching session, I’m reminded of the complexity of faith and the role it plays in navigating life’s challenges. The notion that God may not always provide immediate solutions to our problems, but instead works on strengthening and comforting us amidst the storms, resonates deeply with me. It serves as a powerful reminder that faith is not just about seeking miraculous interventions, but also about surrendering to the process of growth and transformation. Embracing this perspective allows me to find solace and resilience in the face of adversity, trusting that even during uncertainty, God’s presence brings comfort and peace to my soul.
Remarkable, isn’t it. It goes counter to the image of God being Santa Clause, perched on the edge of the cloud with goodie bags to drop on anyone who prays
I believe that religion is a major influence on people’s values, but I don’t think this is a claim that is exclusive to religious individuals. It might affect religious people more profoundly. Yes, however some people might only utilize it as a source of inspiration; they might find value in the moral principle and teachings irrespective of their religious views.
Many of us define success by how hard we push to achieve our goals, yet we neglect to look after our inner peace. I think that keeping balance requires understanding when to give up and concentrate on improving oneself. When we feel overwhelmed or worn out, it’s possible that we ignore ourselves since we have a tendency to push ourselves too much. If this is the case, it’s time to take a break, think things through, and invest in our development. I believe In the long run, taking breaks can result in increased performance and fulfillment.
I believe the statement refers to both religious and non-religious people despite the fact that non-religious persons may take a longer time to realize that’s what’s taking place. Sometimes we have to accept the fact that God doesn’t want to remove our problems but wants to take us through them. Mostly to teach us lessons and help us grow, but ultimately to give him glory. Another reality to accept is the fact that our plans may not be God’s; this may account for the reason why the future we planned is not coming through accordingly. With that, the best approach is to consult God and allow Him to direct us so our plans coincide with His.
To note, I am firm believer of God, the term faith conveys trusting in God for favor. Personally, pushing ahead by faith in the circumstances of a storm is dependent on a spiritual connection with God, hence this principle would only be applicable to religious persons. Faith by non religious individuals would be more of a psychological analysis. On one hand, it is important to set attainable goals, work hard at achieving them and reap the rewards. But how much does it takes from you to achieve? can you always tell when you have succeeded? Being able to identify that you have attained your initial goals is where you decide is this trajectory or endeavors worth continuing? are their more benefits? if so, its dependent on ones discretion to continue, but personally i would shift my focus, accept the reality.
Hi Jevane, consider that the whole system was made by God, and to sustains it, he put principles in place by his word. Gravity is God’s and it works for Christians and non-Christians; sowing-and-reaping is God’s and it works for Christians and non-Christians…on and on. The same is true for believing in a thing–remember, “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The word of God is quick and powerful and sharp–-its effects go beyond just the born-again and church folks.
Your thoughts?
I think when asking the question if this blog post relates only to religious persons, we should consider what makes a person religious is it because they are baptized, they attend church or do they believe in God, but they are neither baptized nor do they go to church. From this perspective once you believe hard enough in God and also your faith in him is strong does it matter if you’re religious, I don’t think it does. Because you can do something religiously but that doesn’t mean that what you are doing will bear fruit. Therefore, whether you are religious or not once your prayers are answered and you believe that God is there and that He hears you will continue to trust him and in turn your life will be transformed.
For the next question when you should stop pushing and work on you, in order to answer that question, we can look at it from the perspective, of who you are, where you are in life and where do you plan or where do you think you’re going. Individuals are at different aspects of their lives some individuals neglect themselves for the sake of others, parents for example, teachers, office workers, and many others. While on the other hand persons get lost in the cycle of life that they forget to live it. So, when do we stop pushing and work on ourselves? I think that we should work on ourselves every day, we shouldn’t get so lost and caught up in the future that we forget about the present, because life is unpredictable, today you are healthy and tomorrow you go to the doctor, and you find out you’re not. In all that we do we should remember that we are human beings, and we are not indestructible.
Hi Shanair, thank you for your thoughts on the subject. The first matter you addressed is not intended to define the religious versus the Christian or the spiritual. It is simply a question of whether or not the principle applies in the secular world as well. If one does not pray to God, but hopes fervently for the storm to stop; visualizes with deep focus; or believes and sends good energy into the storm, are there times when the storm will continue anyway, leaving the person the opportunity to work on himself/herself?
Regarding your treatment of the second matter–“when you should stop pushing and work on you,” I agree with your position entirely. Well said.
Finding inner strength during hardship applies to everyone, not just those who are religious. Instead of relying on an external force to calm the storm, it’s about cultivating the resilience to navigate it. We naturally seek solutions, but true growth often comes from overcoming challenges and adapting to them.
The key to good leadership lies in knowing when to persevere and when to focus on self-improvement. Persistence is essential, but so is self-awareness. Sometimes, the reason the storm seems relentless is because a different approach is needed. Stepping back to reflect, considering diverse viewpoints, or even taking a break can reveal a more effective strategy. Effective leadership is about pushing forward strategically, not blindly, and recognizing when the focus needs to shift from external problems to internal development.
I think that the statement above applies to persons who are “believers”. One thing that I have noticed about this generation is that we go for what we want and we don’t necessarily stop until we have gained that accomplishment and sometimes we don’t know when its time to slow down and the only thing that slows us down are the obstacles that we face. When we are faced with these obstacles we keep it pushing until we reach the finishing line.
The statement above applies to everyone not just religiously as in today’s society it is of the notion that one must have what one wants but sometimes they cannot afford their wants however, they still try to and they feel it’s a burden. Sometimes we don’t know when to stop and work on ourselves, building a stronger mindset to overcome whatever problems and advance ourselves. Sometimes God allows you to understand and face the problem looking at the brighter side of the situation, building you to be better. The majority of the time what you have been asking, you are blessed with more than that.
Knowing when to pause and work on personal growth requires a combination of self-awareness, feedback from others, and a willingness to adapt your approach as needed. It’s about finding a balance that allows you to pursue your goals while also prioritizing your overall well-being and development, saying this to say people’s religious belief and work ethic is two different things.