By Rev Clifford Chisha
Leadership, at any level, attracts criticism,direct and/or indirect opposition, tough decision making circumstances and frustrations.
We often focus so much on the privileges of leadership positions and forget the responsibilities and pressure that comes with them.
It is a leader who has been thoroughly prepared to handle intense pressure who can lead well.
The pressure that comes with decision making, both constructive and destructive criticism, unnecessary and necessary opposition calls for one to be strong and courageous.
In leadership, you will meet those that attempt to intimidate you, despise your abilities and experience.
Not all will appreciate your leadership style.
The reality of leadership.
Some wrongly apply this saying to leadership- “the higher you go, the cooler it becomes”.
Serious challenges will be there, but leadership has to be there.
Two great leaders, Moses and David, provided great counsel to the leaders who were going to succeed them.
Moses, when it was clear that he wasn’t going to go over the Jordan, he addressed Joshua after addressing Israel.
In the sight of all Israel, Moses urged Joshua to be strong and courageous.
DEUTERONOMY 31:7
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ” Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.
Joshua had a great task ahead of him.
He was going to lead Israel to the promised land.
He was going to face various enemies, some too numerous and mighty, some of them of a gigantic stature, and their cities strong and well fenced.
He surely needed to be strong and courageous.
Joshua did not only need to worry about the outside enemies, but the people he was going to lead.
They had strongly opposed his predecessor Moses before, and he was going to lead the same people and divide land among them.
The counsel from an experienced great leader was timely and very important, be strong and courageous.
David, when he was about to die addressed the nation of Israel and later gave this charge to Solomon who was going to succeed him… be strong and courageous.
1CHRONICLES 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, ” Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
Solomon had a great task of leading Israel and had a special assignment-to build the house of the LORD.
The counsel from a man who had been in top leadership positions for forty years was timely and very vital.
He needed to be strong and courageous.
Jehovah Himself, when commissioning Joshua urged him to be strong and courageous.
Check Deuteronomy 31:23.
If the Creator Himself saw the importance of being strong and courageous as a leader, who are we to substitute these for other things.
To make certain decisions, courage is needed.
Leading certain organisations demand high levels of mental strength.
You need to be emotionally strong.
Among the people you lead, sometimes, are those that can’t wait to sit on your seat.
There are those who feel they can do better than you, and of course, some can.
If you are a leader, be strong and courageous.
With courage, focus,integrity, vision, a genuine heart to serve and the Creator leading you, you will succeed.
