Leadership Thought: As Leaders Have You Ever Walked the Red Sea Road?

Dear Friends,

Last night our men enjoyed a spirited Spiritual Leadership class on the subject of “Tests of Leadership.” Each Wednesday we gather to study, share, and  stimulate  one another as  we seek to improve our spiritual leadership skills. We are studying Spiritual  Leadership, Oswald Sanders’ classic book on the subject.

Before we get to the chapter questions, we take a few minutes to personally  share our answers to the following questions based on our reading. We ask, “What did you like, what did you love, and what did you learn from the chapter? It’s a great way to initiate discussion, while serving as a good chapter review.

I wanted to share with you some of significant “likes, loves and ‘learns,’” from last night session.

“God allows, tests, temptations and trials… and even plans these experiences for our good and for our growth. Tests are meant to let us succeed, not fail. Tests display our spiritual progress.” P. 159

“John Mott said, leaders deal with impossible tasks rather than easy ones in order to foster personal competence, teamwork , and faith . ‘I long since ceased to occupy myself with minor things that can be done by others. A true leader steps forward in order to face baffling circumstances and complex problems.’” P. 161

“How a leader handles failure or simply feelings of failure, will set much of the agenda for the future. Peter appeared washed up as a leader after his denial of Christ, but repentance and love re opened the door of opportunity and Peter's leadership touched all the rest of Christendom.” P. 163

“The historian James Anthony Froude wrote. ‘the worth of a man must be measured by his life, not by his failure under a singular and peculiar trial. Peter the Apostle, though forewarned three times denied his Master on the first alarm of danger; yet that Master, who knew his nature in its strength and in its weakness, chose him. Successful leaders have learned that no failure is final, whether his own failure or someone else’s. No one is perfect, and we cannot be right all the time. Failures and even feelings of inadequacy can provoke humility and serve to remind a leader who is really in charge.’” P 163

Moses was deeply wounded, when Aaron and his sister Miriam questioned his leadership,  “but he said nothing to vindicate himself. His main concern was God's glory, not his own position or privilege……. The person who fills a role appointed by God need not worry about vindicating his or her work when rivals become jealous or treacherous. Such a leader is safe in the hands of a heavenly protector.” P. 164-65

And whenever you find yourself in an impossible situation as a leader, remember the following poem that all of us  read on p.162. It's a poem all of us would do well to memorize.

“Have you come to the Red

Sea place in your life,

Where in spite of all you can do,

There is no way out, there is no way back,

There is no other way but through?

Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene

Till the night of your fear is gone;

He will send the wind, He will heap the floods,

When he says to your soul, “Go on.”

In the morning watch, neath the lifted cloud,

You shall see but the Lord alone;

When he leads you on from the place of the sea

To a land that you have not known;

And your fears shall pass as your foes have passed,

You shall no more be afraid.

You shall sing His praises in a better place,

A place that his hand has made.”

         Annie Johnson Flint

Have a great day and if you are ever walking the Red Sea Road take a listen to Ellie Holcomb as she sings “The Red Sea Road.” I think you will be glad you did.

Yours in faith,

Tom