When the Check Engine Light Becomes a Leadership Test

How anchored identity led to a better outcome, in business and in life

Last week I was driving between Ohio and Illinois in what felt like a win: a “new” (secondhand) truck I’d been hunting for, a bit of a unicorn. You know the feeling when you finally find the right solution after a long search. Relief. Momentum. Confidence.

And then… the check engine light came on.

Not in my driveway. Not near my mechanic. On the road. And still almost 3hrs from where I needed to be.

In a moment, what felt like a win turned into a crisis. And the real issue wasn’t just the truck. The real issue was what the pressure tried to pull out of me.

Because crisis doesn’t only reveal what’s happening around you, it reveals what’s ruling inside you.

Crisis reveals the throne of your heart

Most of us don’t decide who we are in the middle of pressure, we just express who we’ve been living as.

When stress hits, it’s easy to slide into one of these default modes:

Fear: “What is this is going to cost me?”

Shame: “I should’ve known better.”

Anger/accusation: “Someone ripped me off.”

Control: “I’ll fix it, force it, push through.”

But those reactions don’t come from strength. They come from identity insecurity; trying to protect yourself, prove yourself, or defend yourself.

And that’s why anchored identity is not “nice theology.” It’s crisis leadership.

The first key: don’t ignore the indicator lights

The check engine light was an interruption, but it was also information.

A lot of leaders get into trouble because we treat warning signs like inconveniences. We push through because we’re busy. We don’t want to look foolish. We don’t want to deal with it.

But little lights become big bills.

So, I chose the slower path: pull over, get a diagnostic, and find out what’s actually going on.

That decision alone is a Kingdom pattern:

Wisdom doesn’t panic. It pauses.

The second key: let love, not pressure, lead your response

As the situation unfolded, the “truck problem” became bigger than expected. The kind of discovery that makes your stomach drop.

And right there, I felt the fork in the road:

Path A: lead from fear

Fear says:

“I need to protect myself.”

“I need to win this conversation.”

“I need to make them pay.”

Fear escalates quickly. It uses accusation. It assumes the worst. It demands immediate control.

Path B: lead from anchored identity

Anchored identity says:

“I am fully loved.”

“God is with me.”

“I can respond with clarity and peace.”

That’s not passivity. That’s authority.

This is what it means to be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3). When love is the soil you’re planted in, pressure doesn’t uproot you. It just reveals your roots.

So instead of calling the dealer from accusation, I called from a place of calm strength:

• clear about what happened
• honest about what was discovered
• firm about what needed to be made right
• but not fueled by rage, shame, or panic

The third key: integrity creates space for favor

Here’s what’s wild: when you lead from love, you create room for solutions you can’t force.

The conversation didn’t spiral. It didn’t turn into a fight. It didn’t become a stress-filled war of words.

Because love changes the environment.

Long story short: the situation resolved in a way that protected me, restored what was lost, and brought a clean outcome, without me having to become someone I’m not.

That’s not luck. That’s Kingdom leadership.

What this teaches Christian business leaders about crisis

Your crisis may not be a truck. It might be:

• a cash flow crunch
• a key employee leaving
• a vendor failure
• a surprise expense
• a conflict you didn’t see coming
• a customer issue that threatens your reputation

And the enemy would love to use that moment to pull you into:

• fear-based decisions
• reactive communication
• self-protective leadership
• burnout and striving
• compromise

But the Kingdom way is different.

Three Kingdom Keys to Handle Crisis (and win the moment)

1. Pause before you pounce.
Get perspective. Get the facts. Ask God, “What’s really going on here?”

2. Stay rooted in love.
Pressure will try to move you off identity. Don’t let it. Love is your anchor and your advantage.

3. Communicate with calm authority.
You can be clear and firm without being harsh. You can confront issues without losing peace.

A simple activation for your next pressure moment

The next time you feel stress rising, try this 30-second reset:

Hand on your chest. Breathe.

Say: “Jesus, You’re here. I’m loved. I’m not alone.”

Ask: “Holy Spirit, what’s the wise next step?”

Then take the next step—without rushing, defending, or proving.

That’s how you partner with God in business.

A prayer for leaders under pressure (from Ephesians 3:14-19)

Father, I pray for every business leader reading this who is facing pressure right now. Strengthen them with power through Your Spirit in their inner being. Let Christ dwell in their hearts through faith—so they would be rooted and grounded in love. Give them clarity, courage, and peace for the next decision. And let their crisis become a testimony of Kingdom leadership. Amen.

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