God is faithful. What does that mean? Authors Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley explain, “God’s faithfulness is His reliability in doing what He has promised.” In other words, we can count on God. Leadership is full of tough challenges and choices. In life and work filled with anxiety, disappointment, temptation, crisis, frustrations, hate, failure and adversity, we serve a God that we can rely on. It is God’s faithfulness that gives a Christ-centered leader confidence. But we are prone to forget without a reminder.

Long ago the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered into God’s Promised Land. At the point where they crossed the river was in flood stage, a mile-wide raging current of water. As the people dipped their feet into the water, God stopped the flow, and they walked across on dry ground. Scripture records an interesting instruction from God in Joshua 4:2-3 at this point. God told Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” These stones were to serve as a monument to God’s faithfulness.

The stones came not from the shore, from the riverbed itself, where they had walked across on dry ground. Joshua said to the people of Israel, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over… He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God” (Joshua 4:21-24).

*God had Joshua memorialize the crossing of the Jordan River with a stack of stones.*

When we face difficulties and challenges in life and leadership, it’s important to remember God’s faithfulness. We can face what is ahead of us when we know Who is with us. Just as the people of Israel could look at the pile of memorial stones and be reminded of what God had done, we too can look at what God has done and be reminded that our trust in Him is not in vain. Remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives gives us confidence in our spiritual direction for leadership.

Remember what God promised. The Bible contains 8,810 promises God has made to His people.[1] God made promises to all of mankind, and to the nation of Israel, and to followers of Jesus. Consider ten promises of God that apply specifically to you:

God promises to strengthen you (Ephesians 3:14-16).
God promises to give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
God promises to take care of your needs (Philippians 4:19).
God promises to answer your prayers (Matthew 7:7).
God promises to work everything out for your good (Romans 8:28).
God promises to be with you (Joshua 1:5, 9).
God promises to protect you (Psalm 91:2).
God promises freedom from sin (1 john 1:9, John 8:36).
God promises that nothing can separate you from Him (Romans 8:38-39).
God promises everlasting life (John 3:16).[2]

No matter what valley you are walking through, or challenge you face, or agonizing decision that is before you, there is a promise of God that you can rely on to help you face the right direction and walk the best path forward.

Remember what God has done. Consider to that every promise of God has been fulfilled. God has never broken a promise. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Again Joshua says in 23:14, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” The fact that God keeps His promises is His attribute of faithfulness. We all encounter people in our lives who will break their promises. This makes us skeptical in our trust of people and of God. But we can be sure of God’s promises because He has kept every one. Look again on the list of promises above, and realize that God has done everything He said He was going to do. That God keeps His promises is confirmed over and over in Scripture:

“The Lord said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled’” (Jeremiah 1:12).
“The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago…” (Lamentations 2:17).
“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord’” (Ezekiel 12:28).
“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled’” (Luke 1:38).
“Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).[3]

*Today the Bible provides a means by which to remember and rejoice in God’s faithfulness.*

Remember what God is doing. Here is perhaps the best aspect of God’s faithfulness for today’s leader: to know that God is continuing to keep His promises. He is still at work in our lives and leadership and His fulfillment of His many promises is ongoing. Sometimes we’ll say that we are “claiming a promise of God.” This is a way of saying that because we know God is faithful to what He has done in the past, He will also remain faithful to those same promises now.

These words from Scripture are not ancient history, rather there are still being kept. They are our very own memorial stones. Just as the people of Israel passed by that stack of stones along the Jordan River and remembered what God had done, we too can open the Bible and be reminded of God’s promises, made and kept. When the people of Israel lacked faith, confidence, direction, or determination, the memorial stones were a reminder to them that they could trust in God. 2 Corinthians 1:20 reminds us, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” It is the Word of God, the Bible, that provides for us a memorial to God’s faithfulness—promises given, kept and ongoing.

More on God's Faithfulness

The Suffering of Job

On the surface the story of Job may seem a cruel game. A faithful man, he suffers greatly, questions God, and receives God’s pointed response. How should we lead when faced with trials and difficulty?

Success Is No Name of God

God tells us about Himself through His names. The Bible records some 900 names and titles of God in total, There are about 30 names that are specific to Him alone.

The Leader and the Prophets

A Christ-centered man looks for instruction in how to live, lead, interact and influence. The Bible contains practical instruction for life, family and business. But what about the prophecy in the Bible?

Untwisting Unconditional Love

A loving God is Someone we all want. Because though God is love and God does love, by no means is His love unconditional. Rather, love is God’s nature, and God loves for His own glory and purposes.

Full of Grace

Salvation through Christ is a gift of grace. Christ Himself is described as “full of grace” (John 1:14). A common definition of grace as used throughout the Bible is undeserved favor.

What Is God Thinking?

What if you could know what God Himself was thinking? What if you were able to discern the very thoughts of God? How would that skill and divine knowledge benefit your life and leadership?

Returning to Godly Leadership

In leadership we might go out on a limb, try something new, give an idea a season. But when the result isn’t what we wanted or hoped for, our minds turn to the idea that we “need to get back”. Back the basics. Back to reality. Back to normal.

Stop Complaining

We complain constantly, at home and at work. This spills over in our culture, which is consumed by victimhood. In social media, the news media, education, government and business, we are on the lookout for every tiny hint of present and historical unfairness.

The High Ways of God

There are aspects of the Father that go above our heads. Though we can’t possibly know all the ways of God, we can know, in a broad sense, how God’s ways are higher our ways.

How Leaders Can Trust God

As in many facets of a man’s character, the instruction on trust with respect to biblical leadership is very different. Proverbs 3:5 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

What Is Christian Leadership?

Once a person surrenders their life to Christ, faith and leadership cannot be separated. It is “baked in”. The difference in Christian leadership is that faith takes point for the leader.

Be Rich in Good Deeds

Why are you a leader? Are the resources and position you have solely for your own benefit, or were you meant for something more? Paul’s letter to Timothy gives an interesting take on the purpose and priorities of leading others.

Everything, Except For

In the leader’s search for God’s will for their life and work, it is always more tempting to do everything, except for those things God has already told us to do. Don’t allow pride in your own purpose blind you to the common will of God.

3 Truths of Godly Leadership

Godly leadership is sorely needed in our current culture. Godly leaders aren’t those who are arrogant and desire to exercise power. Rather they possess sober judgment and a measure of faith.

Leadership Involves Risk

A leader must accept some level of risk if he is to lead. To innovate, to explore new ideas, to find success along unexpected paths involves risk. Risking is a skill that can be learned and developed.

The Eye of the Storm

How do you react in the middle of a storm? I’m not talking about a hurricane of course, but the storms of life, business, family, health, finances, or difficult circumstances? We face storms every week of one sort or another.

Research Shows

Do you trust statistics? Do you make determinations based on polls, studies or historical data? How do you know those numbers are real and worth basing decisions on them? Let’s look at a biblical guideline for leading by numbers.

Achieving Success

What is success? As a leader, perhaps you’ve set out trying to achieve it. The best house. Fat bank account. Full social calendar. Our culture shouts about what success is all day, every day. But the Bible paints a very different picture.

When You've Had It

Every month between 2% and 3% of all workers quit their jobs. But here’s something interesting. A recent survey revealed that 78% of young workers say they regretted their new job after starting. Are they quitting for the right reasons?

Gaining Direction for Life

Most workers can easily define what they do on a daily basis. Much harder is to determine why they are doing it, beyond the obvious facet of earning money.

The Closed Door

If God “opens doors”, then does He also close them? Are there times where you lose a job or a client, or change your role, or a friendship is broken, or a series of circumstances bring about a major change in life—and that’s God at work?

Where The Bible Teaches Leadership

Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Daniel, Isaiah, John, Paul, Timothy, Jesus… does the Bible, through its primary characters and events, give us examples of leaders, or does it actually teach leadership skills and principles?

A Daily Investment in Leadership

Your daily time alone with God and study of the Bible is the key to growing in leadership. Yet only 45% of Christians say they read the Bible “at least once a week”, while a third say they engage in the Scriptures “seldom or never”.

Men Have Everything to Fear

In Christ, men have everything to fear. As we develop a healthy fear of God, that sense of reverence, awe and respect guides our thoughts and actions. Scripture consistently connects our fear of God to living smart.

Leadership Lessons from Truett Cathy

Samuel Truett Cathy (1921-2014) was an American businessman, investor, author, and philanthropist. He founded the fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A. In 2007, Forbes magazine estimated Cathy’s net worth of $1.2 billion.

5 Forks on the Road to Success

Many leaders allow success for them to be defined by others, or by circumstances. But real success is that which remains true and lasting for a long time.

All the Things We Don't Know

Our culture has accepted the notion that our collective knowledge has grown to near completion. The reality is that there is a staggering amount we simply don’t know. Consider the unanswered questions and it leads to a sense of awe in our Creator and His Creation.

How to Be Fearless

In Scripture we see fears such as inadequacy, fear of disapproval, fear of the unexpected, fear of losing control, or fear of being disappointed. These are fears that God can help us overcome. The Bible also gives a path to leading fearlessly.