LEADERS ARE PATIENTin the desert that they developed the patience required to persevere under
difficult circumstances. It was in the wilderness that they learned to “take
the heat” that always goes along with leadership. Men and women who
have gotten their education in the “University of the Wilderness” have the
authenticating look of time-tested, weather-beaten leaders! When you
have a “Desert Degree” you are really ready to face life. These kinds of
leaders do not have the staged-orchestrated-fresh-off-the-shelf-window-
dressed-air-brushed-blown-dry look of manicured and pampered people.
They do not look like some of the popular “TV preachers” and “video
visionaries” who have known only the artificial spotlights and studio
lights of professionalism – rather than the searing sunlight of wilderness
testing! No! Desert leaders have that lean-look that lets you know that
they have “...walked through the valley of the shadow of death.” As a result,
“they are not afraid” of the tough times (Ps. 23:4)! They have already
faced-off and faced-down their greatest fears in the desert.
It is only patience and perseverance that will sustain a leader during
those times of testing and waiting in the wilderness. It is in the desert
of difficulty that the leader learns how to face and overcome anonymity,
loneliness, hardship, suffering, setback, disappointment, discouragement,
defeat, despair – even death. It is in the wilderness of testing that many
leaders give up. But it is also there that many leaders grow up! Paul said:
“Let us not become weary in doing good...” (Gal. 6:9). It is easy to
become weary in the wilderness. It is hard to keep doing the right things...
good things...positive things...creative things...godly things – in the
wilderness. Again, it takes perseverance and patience, as any desert shepherd
will testify! It is hard to lead sheep – or people – in the wilderness. Just
ask Moses!
It is tough enough to have to go through the wilderness alone. It is even
tougher to have to lead other people through that experience! Almost every
ministry, organization or business has to corporately and collectively go
through times of testing in the wilderness! It was their sojourn in the
wilderness that brought out the very worst in the children of Israel. It
was the severity and hardship of the wilderness that manifested their
clinging to the past...their paganism and idolatry...their immorality...their
rebellion against authority...their inclination to return to their “old life”
and “old way of doing things.” The wilderness always causes the sin,
selfishness, negativity and fear in people’s lives to surface and manifest