Day 29 – The Power of Listening

April 29, 2026 — Wednesday

Yesterday was about people.

Not tasks.
Not execution.

Connection.

The First Conversation

I started the day with coffee.

A new member of the church.

And I made a decision:

Be fully present.

Why That Matters

Because most people don’t listen.

They wait.

Wait to respond.
Wait to talk.
Wait to shift the focus back to themselves.

But Something Different Happens When You Listen

When you stay engaged…
When you ask questions…
When you actually care—

People open up.

His Story

It wasn’t easy.

Broken home.
Time away from church.
Military life.

Special forces.

Which means…

He’s seen things most people never will.

The Weight He Carried

He talked about losing a friend.

Someone who took their own life.

And in that world…

He said it’s not uncommon.

What That Reveals

There are people walking around every day…

Carrying things you can’t see.

And That Changes How You Lead

Because when you understand that…

You stop making assumptions.

You start asking better questions.
You start listening deeper.

What He Did With That Pain

He didn’t stay in it.

He responded.

Started a podcast.

To bring awareness.
To help others.

That’s the Pattern

Pain → Purpose.

The Truth Behind It

What was meant for harm… can be used for good.

That’s not just theory.

I’ve seen it too many times.

The Choice We All Face

You can:

• stay stuck in your past

• carry the weight

• let it define you

Or,

You can use it.

The Second Conversation

Later that day, I met with another leader.

Different story.

Different path.

A Different Kind of Upbringing

Raised in church.
Strong foundation.
Faith from the beginning.

But Still—Challenges Came

Because faith doesn’t eliminate difficulty.

It gives you something to stand on in it.

The Reality

Two completely different lives.

Two completely different paths.

Same conclusion:

God was present in both.

What I’m Learning

Ministry isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s not about talking more.

It’s About Listening Better

Because when you listen:

• you understand

• you gain perspective

• you see beyond yourself

The Danger

If you only focus on your life…

You shrink your perspective.

The Opportunity

But when you listen to others…

You expand it.

And That Changes Everything

Because now you’re not leading from assumption…

You’re leading from understanding.

The Anchor

“Everyone should be quick to listen…” James 1:19

Not quick to speak.

Not quick to react.

Quick to listen.

Closing Thought

Yesterday reminded me:

The more you listen…
the more clearly you see.

And the clearer you see…

The better you can lead.