Encouragement strengthens hope

An Interview with Amy Vezina, Director, Health Insurance Operations, Sun Life, Waterloo, Ontario

In today’s corporate business world, ‘what’s in it for me’ dominates many conversations involving change.  Yet, the Bible teaches us servant leadership, opposing this self-centred ‘me first’ attitude, is what we need to learn. Taking care of others as our focus will help us to become a light shining in a dark place. What is encouragement? Amy tells us that it’s impacting someone, to give them support and hope in what they want to achieve. It’s not always positive. Sometimes it simply provides a new perspective on a decision or situation. It requires stepping outside one’s comfort zone.  While it’s sometimes speaking positive uplifting words, encouragement also includes a commitment to read God’s Word, lead with integrity, ignite hope, and at times it means helping someone see things through a spiritually discerned set of new lenses.

Amy’s Story: As a 20-year-old, Amy recalls working at a restaurant and serving a couple who built Friday date night into their schedule. But their window of time was always tight – merely one hour. Amy noted that they always ordered the same drinks and meal, so she began to get their order placed ahead of time, so that it was ready upon their arrival. One day they noticed her engagement ring, and that led to a conversation about her future career and marriage plans. Amy learned that the lady was CEO at a large insurance firm. When she handed Amy her business card and invited her to apply for an upcoming job opening, leadership doors opened that resulted in a job, and within six months a promotion to a higher management level.

Feeling blessed, Amy talks about “paying it forward”. Now she consciously tries to encourage those she works with or supervises, always looking for ways to help them flourish as leaders, better equipped to serve others in their circles of influence. That gift of having others to serve is one of the greatest benefits of being an encourager.  In Amy’s life she is currently experiencing this blessing through being a facilitator for a CCBF ‘BIZ group’ in the Waterloo area and a leader for ‘Bright Believers’. Another benefit is the expanded capacity to trust God, and experience a confidence that God is always in control. For example, during COVID days, Amy recalls how so many around her seemed filled with fear and trepidation. But she was told ‘there’s something different about you!’ That difference, she realized, was her faith and dependence on God.  She believed God was in control, and trusted Him, which caused her to not feel afraid. Somehow that set her apart from many around her. Amy’s two book recommendations are:  Ed Mylett’s The Power of One More, plus a soon to be released book by her mentor Richard Magnussen, entitled Go Big.

Three Christ-centric Biblical Principles:

• God strengthens us. Amy shares the life verse she chose for her baptism, which is: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:13 NIV
• You are not alone.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
• Hope brings joy and peace. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

In conclusion, Amy’s offer of practical advice on this concept of encouragement is two-fold. First, focus on the Bible and what it teaches us. Did you know that the Bible is a love letter from God to each one of us?  If I got a love letter from that special one I love most, I’d memorize it! God’s Word not only teaches us to know God better, it brings delight into our soul, as we increase our trust in Jesus, and grasp the depth of His love for us.

Secondly, find a mentor. Mentorship is highly under-rated. We need someone mentoring us and as business leaders, we need to become a mentor, too. When times of discouragement come, as they no doubt will, it is of great value to have someone who cares enough about us to pray for and with us, strengthening us with hope and encouragement that is biblical and Christ-focused.

“Connecting your Sunday Faith to your Monday Work”

The Canadian Christian Business Federation exists to support business leaders in the study and application of Biblical Leadership Principles with peers, in order to transform lives, strengthen businesses, and positively influence and impact our world. www.ccbf.org