There’s a lot in our world right now to feel fearful about!

From the ongoing coronavirus threat, to the uncertainty of our economy, to the direct impact it may have on all of us. So, dealing with fear is a real challenge for many of us.

But how do we properly deal with our fear?  Let me offer two keys.

Key Number One: You have to name it

Fear can be like a ball of string all knotted up. You’re not exactly sure what you’re worried about, what you’re anxious about, or what you’re fearful about, but you know you are. To start unraveling that knotted ball, and to start dealing with fear, you have to first name it.

One of my favorite quotes, is by the great African-American abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, when she said, “I led a thousand slaves to freedom. I could have led a thousand more — if only they would have known they weren’t free.”

Wow. I love that quote.

To get free of something you first have to name it. So what is it for you? Be specific.

I’m fearful right now of _________________?

Key Number Two: You have to find the root

The second key to dealing with fear is to untangle the knot and find what’s at its root. Here’s what I’ve found. The root of fear almost always has to do with the issue of trust — who or what am I trusting in?

When it comes to trust, we only have three options:

• Ourself — we can trust in our own efforts, ingenuity, intellect, and abilities but usually, all of our efforts eventually run out. 

• Others — we can put our trust in our spouse, our family, a close friend, organizations, institutions, our company, or even our government. But again, all of these sources fall short and eventually let us down.

• God — we can trust in the One who knows all things and who is strong enough to help us carry all things.  

So as you unravel your cord of fear and follow it down to it’s root, ask yourself:

I’m fearful because I’m trusting in ___________________?

When I am afraid

In the bible, the psalmist David, knew what it was like to feel and face real fear. Fear of enemies. Fear of disease. Fear of a crisis. Fear of death. Yet David dealt with his fear by deciding who he would trust.

He writes, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in God. (Psalms 56:3)

So if you’re feeling fear during this current crisis, let me encourage you to put your trust in God. He’s the only one who knows what you’re feeling, and He’s the only one strong enough to help you carry it.   

Living In Faith and Living On Purpose

Ken L Roberts
P.S. If I can serve you during these unusual times, simply email me at Ken@KenLRoberts.com. I’d be honored to help anyway I can.

The Day My Wife and I Got Lost…Really Lost!

A few years ago my wife and I were vacationing in a remote area of northern Minnesota. One morning over breakfast we decided to go on a hike. We drove to what we thought was a Minnesota DNR trailhead. Missy and I started out at a brisk pace, excited to be in nature, admiring the beauty surrounding us. A few hours later our pace slowed and we started having an uneasy feeling. Something didn’t seem quite right. We stopped, looked at each other, and at the same time asked, “Are we lost?”   

If you don’t know where you’re going, guess what?
You’re lost! 

The trail we were on stretched out in front of us, with a second path veering to the right and another trailing off to the left. I asked Missy, “Do you think we should take the trail to the right or the one to the left? Or should we stay on the trail running straight ahead?” She thought it would be best to turn around and go back the way we came. We stood there and debated.   

I checked the arc of the sun trying to figure out which direction we were heading, but my Boy Scout skills had died long ago. Then I had a brilliant idea. I reached into my back pocket, pulled out my iPhone, powered it on, and waited. Miraculously, a faint blue bar flickered. I knew we had entered the trailhead from the north and traveled south, so I pulled up the compass app on my phone, set it due north, and we headed that direction. Sure enough, several hours later, with heavy legs and aching feet, we made it back to the car, just as the sun was setting.  

Everyone Needs A Personal Compass

Everyone needs a personal compass! It’s what I call having your own unique North Star. Yet, after coaching hundreds of individuals over the years, I’m surprised at how many people don’t actually have a clearly defined North Star. They haven’t taken the time to discover how they have been uniquely designed and what they’ve been uniquely designed for.

Here’s Why Having A North Star Is So Important

There’s several reasons why having your own North Star is really important. Here are a few of those reasons:

• It keeps you from drifting through life and then one day waking up and wondering what you did with your life

• It gives you a greater meaning and purpose to your life

• When the storms of life come and blow you off course (and they will) you know how to get back up and which direction to head

• It gives you a grid, or a template, to make major directional decisions throughout your life

• It helps you row in the right direction over the entirety of your life

• It helps you beat the odds of getting stuck or stalling out, so you can ultimately finish strong

Discover Your North Star

If you are interested in taking the time to discover your North Star, let me encourage you to check out my Life-Focus Online Coaching Course. It’s designed for just that reason. I’ve used this material and process to help hundreds discover and live according to their own unique North Star.

My coaching course consist of four modules (short videos) and a downloadable outline for each module. Each module is listed below:

• Module One: 5 Steps For Discovering Your North Star 

• Module Two: Crafting Your Life-Focus Purpose Statement

• Module Three: Identifying And Overcoming Potential Growth Barriers

• Module Four: Putting Together A Plan That Works For YOU

There’s Never Been A Better Time

As we’re all still in the uncertain days of this coronavirus crisis, now is an ideal time to take the time and discover your North Star. It will help you figure out what may be Next for you and how to move in that direction. So don’t delay. Discover your North Star today!

Living On Purpose

Ken L Roberts

PS. If I can further serve you or you’d like to set up a FREE Finding Your North Star Coaching Call simply email me at Ken@KenLRoberts.com or hit the button below and schedule your call. I’d be honored to connect and see how I could possibly help.

We all experience storms.

Live long enough and adversity comes to all of us. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a prolonged illness, a devastating divorce, a crushing financial loss, or the coronavirus crisis - no one’s immune from storms.

But let me suggest two things we can gain in the midst of a storm.

Storms shape us

After my late wife was killed in a car accident, I wrote these words:

Over the years I’ve observed a variety of ways people have responded to difficulty, and as a result, have been shaped by it. Some become hardened, others more humble. Some become cynical, others more grateful. Some grow to resent life; others discover a deeper purpose to life. Some wilt, others bloom. Some learn to hate, others learn to love. Some become hopeless; others become resilient. Some are blown off course; others are moved toward their destiny.

It’s not a question of if a storm will shape us, it’s only a question of how. Our response determines the outcome!

Storms shake us

Storms also shake us, and when they do, they often reveal any of our faulty foundations. Especially in these two areas:

• Storms expose our false images

What I’ve found in my own life, and observed in thousands of others whom I’ve pastored, counseled, and coached is that during a storm, the false images we’ve been projecting, and all the two bit parts we’ve been playing, start to crack. The gale force winds make it difficult to fake it anymore and who we really are starts to surface. Some of what surfaces is good and some of it, not so good.

But here’s the bright spot.

Allowing our false images to surface in the midst of a storm is the only way for deeper healing to occur and for our true selves to further emerge. Real transformation happens in the midst of our pain and in the moments of our openness and vulnerability. When our weaknesses surface, God’s grace rushes in and our journey of deeper transformation begins. So don’t hide these shadowy sides that surface during a storm. Acknowledge they’re there. Let God come in, hold you, heal you, and transform you.

• Storms uncover our idols

For most of us, we don’t have an idol setting on our living room mantle, but trust me, we all have our idols! Here’s how to spot your idols - especially during a storm. An idol is anything or anyone we run to instead of first running to God. Money. Possessions. Spouse. Family. Friends. Government. Church - anything we depend on, or trust in, more than God during a storm reveals our real gods.

So let me ask you:

How is the current storm exposing your idols? What are you trusting in during this storm more deeply than God?

More Storms Are On The Way

This article isn’t meant to condemn, sound self-righteous or come off as super spiritual. It’s purpose is to encourage us to take advantage of the current storm we’re in. Let it dig our foundations even deeper. Because guess what? This storm will pass, but another one will come. That’s not a dooms-day prophesy, just stating a fact of life. Live long enough and storms happen. Take advantage of the current one and and you’ll be better prepared for the coming one.

If I Can Help - Totally FREE!
I coach people for a living…but during this current storm we’re all in - if I can help you navigate this season in your own life, or if you just need someone to talk to who’s been through his own storms - I’d be honored to help.

Hit the button below and Schedule Your Free Coaching Call. I look forward to connecting.

I was talking to my spiritual director on the phone last week and he said something to me that really, really helped. A light-bulb came on. One of those rare Aha moments. 

Dealing With Loneliness
I told him I had been dealing with a lot of loneliness lately. 

Some of it's self-inflicted

• I'm an introvert and a loner by nature. Left to myself, I'd buy a cabin in the remote parts of Montana, walk in the woods during the day and then sit by a fire in my cabin reading a good book at night. 

Some of it's not

• What I do as a leader has a lot to do with giving to others more than receiving for myself. Most of my relationships are a one-way street. I'm the one asked for ideas, advice, direction, leadership, care, etc. etc. etc. Seldom is the relationship reciprocal. 

My Aha Moment
But here's where the Aha moment came in. 

I told my spiritual director that I had a lot of great colleagues in ministry, and some whom I'm very close to. But then he said it, 

• "Ken, there's a big difference between colleagues and soul-friends. Do you know who your soul-friends are?" 

Wow, that hit me...and it hit me hard. 

He went on to say, 

• "Soul-friends are a sovereign thing. You need a few your age and a few a little older than you. But what's most important, you need soul-friends to grow old with!" 

How About You?
Do you just have colleagues or do you have a few true soul-friends? Great question. If not, start asking God to bring them your way. 

If I can further help
If I can further help you live a more purposeful life, I'd be honored to do so. Simply email me at Ken@KenLRoberts.com or use the contact button below and schedule a phone call.

Living and Leading On Purpose, 

Ken L Roberts 
www.KenLRoberts.com

PS. If anyone has a cabin in Montana for sale, give me a call! 

On Wednesday morning (1/22/2020) I got the call that my dad had passed during the night.

It wasn’t totally unexpected. Dad had been dealing with congestive heart failure, but his death was/is still a major, major loss.

My dad was my hero.

Not because he was perfect, he wasn’t. Dad was my hero because:

• At the age of 30 Dad made a decision to follow Jesus Christ and for 59 years was a faithful follower to the very end.

• Dad was married and faithful to my mom for 63 years.

• Dad faithfully pastored churches - in rural areas - for 54 years.

• Dad (and mom) raised 7 children, all who are following Jesus, with sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters - doing the same.

• Dad was a man of his word. If he said he would do it, he would.

• Dad was kind and compassionate and helped thousands of people along the way.

• Dad taught me well, loved me deeply, and gave me a great spiritual inheritance.

What more could a son ask!

A good, good man

The scripture verse I think most accurately describes my dad’s life is Proverbs 22:1

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Dad didn’t leave behind any silver or gold, but he did leave behind a good name and a great spiritual inheritance. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can buy that!

Now what?

Now that my hero’s passed, here are few ways I’m responding.

First of all, I’m embracing the sorrow.

To grieve well is a healthy thing, therefore, I’m leaning into the sadness and sorrow I feel from my dad’s death. But, thankfully, I’m able to do so without any regret. I’m also grieving, but not as someone without hope. Because of my faith in the work of Jesus Christ - I know I will one day be reunited with Dad…and with other loved ones that have already passed. My hope is not some kind of pipe dream, or pie-in-the-sky psychological crutch, my hope is based upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Secondly, I’m continuing to live a life of purpose.

My dad was a good, good man who lived a good, good life. I want to do the same. We desperately need more good men and women. Men and women with more kindness and compassion, men and women who are honest and honorable, men and women who are gracious and generous. That’s who my dad was, and that’s who I want to further become.

Final Words

I’m certain my father has already heard these words from his Father, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joys I’ve prepared for you.” I want to live my life in a way that I’ll hear these same words from my Father one day.

I trust you’ll do the same.

Living on Purpose

Ken L Roberts

PS. If I can further help you live a more purposeful life, simply email me at ken@kenlroberts.com or call me on my cell at 216-374-0016. I’d be honored to help.