Lead Strong: Leadership Lessons From The Bible - Part 2Sample

Leaders Are Patient

Saul was panicked and anxious as he waited at Gilgal. He focused on the chaos surrounding him and lost sight of the God who was leading him. Hastily, Saul took things into his own hands and made chose to move ahead. God was not pleased, and Saul lost his position.

This account of Saul reminds me that patience gives us staying power. Patience keeps us from jumping too quickly into situations that could be potentially harmful. Patience allows us time to step back, evaluate situations and make decisions rationally and without wavering.

I’ve heard it said that patience is a virtue. Although Paul tells us in Galatians 5 that patience is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit, it has not always been an easy quality for me to display along my leadership journey. Maybe, you can relate.

However, as we grow in our leadership roles, we should realize that if we’re to lead for the duration, we need to understand the value of patience and how it will protect us from potential hazards for which we are not yet prepared.

Patience is an attribute that we learn as we lead. We experience patience in those moments when we get ahead of ourselves and try to put the horse in front of the cart, and it’s just not working out. Patience happens during the times we want to be over “there” yet God wants us to stay right “here”.

And as leaders, we have to rest in this...that even though we cannot always envision what lies ahead for us, God can. God has placed us in our positions to believe in and implement his vision while trusting in His timing. And while we know that it’s not possible for us to get ahead of God, we can still have moments when our anxious hearts feel the need to make things happen. In those moments we need to remember that God’s plan is always good and always with our best interest in mind (Jeremiah 29:11).

God assures us that we are running together with Him in this leadership marathon and that we’re not in a chaotic sprint all alone. If we allow God to lead us, and we continue to stay patient, in His perfect timing, He will provide the way and lead us in the best direction each and every time.

By Linda Seidler