As a leader, how do you deal with and navigate the journey of adversity, setbacks, problems and crisis? Are you a “resilient” leader? Resilience can be defined as the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens.
From an Old Testament perspective, in the Book of Exodus, Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) coaches, counsels, and mentors Moses on “resilience and leadership.” In August 1989 I had the opportunity to walk some of the terrain that Jethro and Moses walked in the 1446 BC time frame. My experience during those ten days in August gave me great appreciation and “a glimpse” of the adversity and problems of just simply the weather and the terrain that Jethro and Moses experienced for decades.
Although Moses’ “roots of resilience” began in early childhood, the 40 years of Jethro’s counsel, coaching and mentoring were the foundational learning time about “resilience and leadership.” This included the specifics of teaching Moses that he must “bounce back” after every disappointment, every setback, and every disaster. Later in life, Moses then modeled, counseled, coached, and mentored Joshua.
I love what Joshua said: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, ESV). The generational impact and legacy of this kind of leadership teaching will be a net positive for you, your family, friends, subordinates, peers, and, yes, even your superiors.
You have probably heard that leadership is a lifetime of God’s lessons. Yes, your lessons will be unique to you. The “resilience” lessons are very important to remember and to memorialize. Think about Psalm 119:71 (ESV) “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” Learn, remember, and recall these “resilience” lessons. These experiences are used by God to grow your competence and deepen your character.
Listen to the Apostle Paul: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Paul reminds us that the adversity, the pain, the crisis, the setback, and the problems prepare us for leadership. Paul reminds us that we can depend upon God for comfort.
Suggested Prayer: “Dear God, You have always known and now know my troubles, my adversity, my obstacles, my setback, and my crisis. I believe with Your help, I can be strong. Guide my thinking, give me right answers, and help me to respond the right way. Help me to do things Your way. Help me to follow You. I pray that I can be a person that transcends my own self interests and will diligently pursue others to coach and mentor that can learn from my experiences. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.”
