Don’t Mess This Up

I’d flown to California. I was about to speak to a group of pastors and ministry leaders. As I made my way to the front to speak, the organizer whispered something into my ear: “Don’t mess up.”

I remember that as spectacularly unhelpful advice. If anything, it threw me off as I began to speak. I could have used some encouragement or a promise to pray for me as I speak. I wasn’t expecting what he said.

It’s not a great thing to say to someone as they get up to speak, but in many other ways, it’s no...