For when she kept smiling during her night of faith, it was not a
cover-up but a manifestation of her loving resolve to be ‘an apos-
tle of joy.’”
In the same way, Billy Graham has been an “apostle of love,”
even when his natural feelings may have tempted him to give in
to anger or despair. Colleagues who have traveled with him when
he lay slumped with exhaustion and discouragement have been
amazed at the way he could come alive with full vigor to meet
the challenge of a press event or a meeting with dignitaries or con-
necting with his staff. People see in Billy—even when he may be
weary and discouraged—that warm, gracious, and upbeat spirit
that lifts their own hearts.
This is not to say it’s all “grit your teeth” and override your emo-
tions. The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, and peace, but the
Bible also describes the Spirit as the Ruach, the Hebrew term for the
unpredictable wild wind. The Spirit brings ecstasy and exuberance
at times but ultimately works through the will. Billy Graham con-
tinually concentrated his will into the service of the gospel.
Staff member Rick Marshall recalls the spring of 1991 in Edin-
burgh, Scotland. Billy had been visiting with dignitaries, and Mar-
shall came to escort him to preach. He found him completely
exhausted.
“Dr. Graham, it is time to take the stage,” Marshall said.
“I can’t do it. I’m so tired.”
Marshall looked for a smile, thinking he was kidding. He
wasn’t—he was physically spent.
The young associate sat down beside him and they prayed
together. Marshall, who as crusade director was in charge of the
meetings, felt desperate. This mission is finished before it begins, he
thought.
Somehow, Billy got to his feet and slowly made his way to the
stage. Yet when he took the pulpit, Marshall recalls, “I could not
believe the strength of the man’s voice and the ability God gave
him that evening.”
Much of that amazing resiliency is due to his choice of scripts
and his determination to lead with optimism and hope.
The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham