Good Leaders Need Courage

Good leaders are courageous. History records leaders who lack courage as poor leaders, but the great ones are remembered for facing fear head on, taking risks, and changing the world. In a vacuum of courage, William Wallace spoke to prod the future ruler of Scotland, Robert the Bruce. In Braveheart, Wallace says, "People don't follow titles, they follow courage." Courage turns people into leaders and provokes their followers to sacrifice their time, resources, and even their lives to follow their leaders.

But courage isn't easy. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has written about his struggle to be courageous during the time he was planting Redeemer Church.

I prayed and was reading Gurnall's A Christian in Complete Armour . . . "It requires more prowess and greatness of spirit to obey God faithfully than to command an army of men; more greatness to be a Christian than a captain." I realized that it was an illusion to imagine that I would have to start being brave if I took this job; I should have been living bravely all along. Even if I turned the NYC church down, I could not go back to being a coward.[1]

I've been searching for fresh courage in my job the last few weeks. I came to my church four years ago to lead them in a new direction but have been unable to move forward because of opposition in the church. All of that changed a couple of weeks ago as the vast majority of members embraced a new vision for our future, including a couple of very significant changes. I realized as we adopted these changes that I have led the church in a direction that will add a mountain of work and stress to my life. I realized we are taking some big risks and that I will need to be courageous if I am going to lead these people through whatever difficulties lie ahead.

Even as we were mapping out our new direction, I found myself growing sick from stress. I began to face some opposition in and out of my church. I was growing gun-shy of checking my email or getting a call on my cell phone, wondering what would come next. I opened my Bible one evening before bed and knew exactly where to turn: Joshua 1.

After the death of Moses, God called on Joshua to lead his people into the land God had promised. In order to go, they would have to face opposition, face their fears, and overcome the loss of a great leader. God knew what the people needed in order to move forward. They needed courageous leadership.

So God gave Joshua reasons for courage. He said that men would not be able to stand before Joshua (5-6) and that success would come through knowing and doing His words (7-8). Most of all Joshua needed to know that God would be with him, so there is no reason to fear (4, 9). And the repeated refrain from God to Joshua was "be strong and courageous" (6, 7, 9). Joshua then commanded the people to prepare themselves to take the land (10-15). The people said they would follow Joshua if God was with him as with Moses. Then they exhorted Joshua, "Only be strong and courageous."

In a stressful time, I turned to Joshua to remember that courageous leadership is the result of knowing that God is with me no matter who is against me. My success, as well as the success of my ministry, comes through knowing and doing His Word. As you seek to lead people courageously, may you find it in God's presence with you, no matter who or what stands against you, and may your commitment to His Words bring you great success.