“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
We are kicking off a new 3-part series today called The Uncommon Season: New Life in Old Lessons. This past week, I had the incredible honor of standing in a baptism tank with a brother in Christ. It was the first time I have ever baptized someone. As I stood in that water, watching my mentee prepare to share his story of transformation in front of over 1,000 people, a familiar, nagging voice started to pipe up: The Inner Critic.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13
The Critic started building a case, whispering about “unworthiness” and listing every reason why I wasn’t the right person to be standing there. But as I’ve grown in my faith and leadership, I’ve realized something vital: That voice isn’t God—it’s the evil one.
His strategy is simple: Isolation. I was reminded of this while reading about the rescue of a downed F-15 pilot in the mountains of Iran. When that pilot went down in enemy territory, the military didn’t just “hope he made it out.” They launched an all-hands-on-deck rescue. Thousands of people put their lives on the line for one reason: You do not leave a team member behind.
The enemy doesn’t want me in that tank, and he doesn’t want a rescue team in those mountains. He wants the vulnerable mentee and the downed pilot to be alone. If the Inner Critic can convince you that you aren’t “qualified” or “worthy” enough to lead, he successfully isolates the very people who need your support the most.
The Covenant of Presence
Leadership is the refusal to let the Critic win. Whether it is a spiritual milestone or a life-and-death rescue, the greatest gift a leader offers is presence. When we recognize that the Inner Critic is a tactic of isolation, we can shift our focus from our own flaws to the mission of standing alongside our team.
- Identify the Source: If a voice produces shame, doubt, or a desire to retreat, it isn’t from God. God convicts us to move forward; the enemy critiques us to make us move back.
- Commit the Resources: A rescue mission—whether spiritual or professional—is expensive. It costs time, energy, and comfort. But the value of the person always outweighs the cost of the rescue.
- Refuse to Leave Them Alone: Just like standing in that baptism tank, sometimes the “rescue” is simply showing up so they don’t have to face the mountain alone. Your presence silences their Inner Critic.
Being a Leader, launching the rescue. In our COACH framework, we Call Out And Call Higher. But you cannot call someone “higher” if they are currently trapped in a valley and you are standing on the peak watching them.
Uncommon Leaders are the ones who go back. They recognize that the “temple” we steward includes the people God has placed in our care. We refuse to let the Critic win by keeping us safe and “comfortable” while a teammate is isolated.
Quote of the Week
“The Inner Critic is the voice of the enemy trying to convince you that your past disqualifies you from your future.”
What you need to do:
Perform a “Search and Rescue” audit of your team today. Identify the person who has been “downed” by a challenge, a mistake, or a personal struggle. Recognize the voice of the Inner Critic for what it is—a tactic of isolation. Fire the Critic, cancel a meeting, and launch your own rescue mission today.
I want to hear from you. Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “RESCUE” and let me know:
- Who is the one person you refuse to let stand alone this week?
- What is the “Inner Critic” currently whispering to keep you on the sidelines?
It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. Each week, I bring what I’m learning and living in the trenches of leadership. If this edition challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who leads, stays faithful, or learns alongside you, then click subscribe. Let’s grow Brew Nation together!
Until next week—stay focused, stay present, and keep standing in the gap, Champions!
