Leading With Faith in the Hard PlacesSample

Day 1: Resiliency – Standing Firm in the Storm

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Resiliency is more than just enduring hardship—it is about rising, time and time again, even when the road ahead seems insurmountable. When I think of resilience, I think about the journey of Imani Collective and the countless obstacles we faced. There were moments where I questioned if we could continue, where funding seemed impossible to secure, and where people I trusted walked away. But each time, I found strength not in my own ability but in God’s faithfulness.

There was a moment when I stood before my team, knowing I didn’t have the financial resources to continue paying them. The weight of leadership pressed down on me, but in that moment, I remembered God’s promises. Just as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, we may be struck down, but we are not destroyed. We pivoted, we prayed, and we pressed forward. And somehow, God made a way.

Reflection Question: Where in your work or leadership have you felt struck down? How have you seen God sustain you through it?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the strength You give me to keep going even when the road is hard. Help me to trust in Your provision and to remain resilient in the face of challenges. Remind me that I am not alone in this work. Amen.