While praying and preparing to write my post this morning, I have been reflecting on two heartbreaking texts I received this week. One message was about a high school boy who took his own life. The other was about a college student who shared that he was going to take his own life. The messages were from various people from different parts of the state. Both texts are at the start of a new school year. A new beginning. A fresh start on life.

The 1-Minute Sharper's are primarily about the difficulties of leading. Leading (parenting, coaching, supervising, teaching, etc.) is hard!

As most of you are aware, life is hard.

Leading and life are easier for some than others, but everyone experiences painful, challenging, and sometimes, seemingly insurmountable moments.

But . . . there is so much more to life than what we see in our immediate surroundings. The thing we tend not to see about the mountain in our path is that it’s downhill on the other side.

My heart aches for people, especially young people, who believe that the worst things they’ve experienced in life may be the best it will ever get.

It’s easy to unknowingly contribute to people’s current pain, past heartaches, or social media lambasting, like we witnessed for half the summer. As leaders, we need to better contribute to people feeling loved, appreciated, heard, respected, encouraged, supported, seen, and led well.

Absorb and share this well-known message: “This too shall pass.”

If you don’t know this, please realize there is always something better. Keep looking and you will find it.

If you believe you have tried everything and still feel empty, seek the One I consider the only true and lasting source of joy, Jesus.