“The purposes of a man’s heart are like deep water, but a man of understanding draws them out” – Pr 20:5

Trust is an attitude of the heart. It is the attitude that determines the altitude of the team. We need Christ DNA, the Divine Nature Attitude in building trust in a team that serve God’s purposes. The consequence of a team flows out of its heart, hence we need to guard it above all else. (Pr 4:23) The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

We need to ask what purpose is the team serving. People only trust leaders with a clear purpose who brings clarity not confusion in the face of many challenges before them. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Pr 19:21) A Godly leader leads his team with a clear purpose from the will of God because he knows that is the only thing that will last forever. (1 John 2:17)

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9) It is hard to know the heart of your team just by judging from the surface, because the purposes of a man’s heart are like deep water. Often it takes a major crisis in a team to reveal the hearts of the people. One of the biggest blessings in a crisis is giving us a better understanding of God, people around us and ourselves. Crises do not make us who we are but reveal who we are. If your team is going through a crisis now, just trust God to reveal His plan for you and your team as you hold onto His promises. One thing we cannot afford to lose is our faith in the goodness of God. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Ro 8:28)

Let’s pray.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any misguided way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.

Before we go, take a look at the questions below:

1. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" How do you think this verse influences our trust and interactions with team members? How should we balance trust in others with vigilance regarding the nature of the human heart?

2. Why is it said that crises help us better understand God, the people around us, and ourselves? Have you had such experiences?

3. Based on the above sharing, what is the most important thing to do when facing a crisis?