The Late Night SWOT Analysis (Part 1)

Scripture — Psalm 77:6-9 (NRSV)

I will remember my song in the night;
I will meditate with my heart,
And my spirit ponders:

Will the Lord reject forever?
And will He never be favorable again?
Has His favor ceased forever?
Has His promise come to an end forever?
Has God forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah

Devotion

Organizations often take a hard pause at some calculated period of the year to evaluate where things are or to address an impasse, problem, or unexpected success. The process used for evaluating where things are varies and it is most likely based upon the questions that are asked. I am reminded by my mentor to be careful to ask the right questions, because if you ask the wrong questions, you will devote your resources toward the wrong solutions.

Many organizations perform a SWOT Analysis which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a process to dig into systems and standards and quite often metrics and output are in view. Our fast-paced, results-driven, production-heavy, and efficiency-valued society leaves little room for better questions. Actually, as individuals with enough trouble (or success for that matter) we typically do not ask the right questions either. Trouble frames the questions and those questions are often secular. We have swatted God out of our SWOTs.

I’m glad that Asaph did not explicitly state his problem, because it makes Psalm 77 appropriate for everyone who is familiar with trouble. Whether it was inherited trouble, perceived trouble, or self-inflicted trouble he demonstrated the proper response for everyone who gets that they aren’t strong enough to handle it: “In my days of trouble I sought the Lord” (77:3)._ _

The implication of an anemic Gospel and a sacred/secular divide is that our default lens for our work is that a SWOT is somehow more effective than talking to God. I would love to see what Joseph would say about Egypt’s strengths, or Esther’s perspective on weaknesses. It is not an either/or conclusion between God’s omnipresent providence and SWOT. Rather it is adherence to the fact that the earth is the Lord’s, and any SWOT thereof also. God is worth sending an invite to the meeting also.

Asaph had trouble. God called the meeting and ensured that Asaph would not cancel or reschedule. He could not sleep (77:4). God pushed Asaph until he got the right perspective. And that perspective leads to the right questions.

When decisions have to be made because of an impasse or trouble or potential success, a secular perspective concludes that God has nothing true, beneficial, or beautiful to say about it. Asaph modeled for us otherwise. Consider your days before; look again and decide if God was present. Privilege is a pesky paradox in our world. It affords us gifts and opportunities. But privilege often makes you forget everything is God-given. God is Lord of the first and second cause. It makes us forget the song we learned as kids: “He has the whole world in his hands.” In success or struggle, consider the Lord in your next late-night SWOT.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: A Psalm for Those of Us Who Are in Process.