“Some of us, our problem is we try to make God a Costco God,” Tate said. “When you go to Costco, they’re known for their oversized portions…And people go there and they get this big ole thing of mayonnaise and it’s only $7.55. So you go home and you’re like, ‘Babe, I got mayonnaise! We got sandwiches forever!’”
“But you can never use that much mayonnaise,” Tate said. “I think we expect God to give us enough leadership for the year…But has God ever done that with anybody, ever? No, God says, ‘I’m going to give you what you need for today so you can trust me for what you need tomorrow.’”
In fact, Tate said, focusing only on what God has given for the day, rather than looking ahead to the needs of next week or next month, fosters a sense of gratitude for and attentiveness to what God has indeed provided.
Albert Tate to Discouraged Leaders: ‘Keep Showing Up’
“The other thing is, keep showing up,” Tate went on to say, encouraging leaders not to wait until some imagined time in the future when they will feel ready to lead. “You’re ready right now. We need your leadership right now, where you are today.”
Tate recounted a conversation he and a friend had with another mentor, who pastors a flourishing church. When Tate and his friend asked this pastor what his secret or “silver bullet” was, the pastor said, “Y’all [are] smarter than me. All I did was I just didn’t quit.”
“Don’t underestimate the power of just showing up,” Tate said. “It’s hard? Keep showing up. It’s challenging? Keep showing up. Overwhelmed? Keep showing up, because as you look back over the arch of time, you will look back and you will see the faithfulness of God as you kept showing up. Just don’t quit.”
Referencing the 2003 Pixar film “Finding Nemo,” Tate reminded leaders of a melody sung by the character named Dory, a forgetful fish offering encouragement to Marlon, a pessimistic friend searching for his son.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,” Dory sings in the film.
“I feel like some leaders just need to hear, ‘Just keep leading, just keep leading, just keep leading,’” Tate sang. “When you’re delusional and like, ‘I’m overwhelmed,’ just keep leading, just keep leading. When you’re discouraged and you feel like depression is knocking at your door, just keep leading, just keep leading.”
“Just keep leading,” Tate reiterated.
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Tate went on to reference the biblical account in which Daniel’s enemies conspired against him to have him thrown in a lion’s den, and yet God protected him by keeping the mouths of the lions shut.
