An Unhurried Leader

“We need not have a position of influence to be a person of influence.” This isn’t a book just for people who are in organizational leadership roles. Leaders are influencers. God entrusts to each of us the privilege and responsibility to be persons of kingdom influence wherever he has planted us and in whatever relationships we find ourselves.

One chapter is titled “Prayer as Primary Influence.” We may think of prayer as separate from the actual work and influence of our lives. We’ve found that it is actually an engine for our good work and godly influence. We can take fruitful action in prayer that would be impossible otherwise. Prayer as influence. Praying strategic and God-inspired prayers.

One verse that has taught us a lot about unhurried influence is in Isaiah 30:15, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” Salvation and strength are leadership categories—influence categories. In life, we want leaders who fix things (salvation) and take bold action (strength). What is surprising in Isaiah is where such salvation or strength comes to us. Repentance. Rest. Quietness. Trust. Not our first thoughts for where to find rescue or courage, but they are actually where kingdom salvation and strength are found.

“What I’ve been discovering is that unhurried leadership is actually more fruitful because it is more unhurried, not in spite of that slower pace.” Unhurried isn’t just a nice place to visit between frantic seasons of frenetic work. It’s the relational way of Jesus to more fruitful work. Jesus walks with his Father, speaks the Father’s words, does the Father’s work. He goes slow enough to stay in that place. And he can teach us how to follow him.