The deadline was just hours away, and Jacob Cole felt the weight of it pressing on his shoulders like a physical burden. His team’s quarterly results were due, and they were behind. Not by much, but enough to draw attention. The culprit, at least on paper, was clear—his operations manager, Eric, had missed several critical milestones. Again.
Jacob stared at the spreadsheet on his laptop, each row reminding him of the gap between expectation and delivery. The numbers told a hard truth. But Jacob knew there was a deeper story behind the missed goals. Eric’s wife had been diagnosed with cancer months ago. Since then, Jacob had quietly stepped in—reallocating tasks, covering for him in meetings, and giving Eric room to breathe.
Now, as the deadline loomed large, Jacob was faced with a leadership dilemma. Should he protect the company’s interests by replacing Eric? Or should he extend grace and find another way forward?
He pushed away from his desk, walked over to the window, and whispered a prayer. “Lord, I need Your wisdom. I want to lead like You.”
In that moment, Jacob remembered how Jesus handled the woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders wanted a judgment. Jesus offered both truth and grace. “Let the one without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7).
That scene gave Jacob clarity.
Back at his desk, he drafted a new plan. When the leadership team gathered for the quarterly review, Jacob addressed the elephant in the room head-on.
“Yes, we missed our targets,” he began. “And the deadline pressure has been intense. But I want to share something behind the numbers.”
He paused. “Eric’s been walking through a tough personal season. His wife is seriously ill, and he’s been doing his best. Rather than let him fall, we’re going to support him. For the next two months, we’ll bring in temporary support and shift some responsibilities.”
Some eyebrows raised. A few nodded slowly.
Later that afternoon, Eric stepped into Jacob’s office, emotion in his voice. “I thought I was going to lose my job today. Thank you for trusting me, even though I didn’t meet the deadline.”
Jacob smiled. “We’ll meet deadlines again. But what matters more is that we live our faith—especially when it’s hard. You’re not just an employee, Eric. You’re part of this team. And I’m here to lead people, not just projects.”
Reflection:
We all face pressure from the deadline. In those moments, it’s tempting to act based on numbers alone. But as Christian leaders, we’re called to something higher—leading with truth and grace, just as Jesus did.
John 1:14 reminds us that Jesus came “full of grace and truth.” That’s not a suggestion. It’s a model.
Application:
When the deadline is pressing and your leadership is tested, pause and pray. Ask for God’s wisdom to respond in a way that honors both the work and the people behind it. In a world of quick decisions, faith-based leadership chooses integrity over impulse.
