Sometimes, what stops a pastor is not a lack of ability, opportunity, or resources.

• It is not always a lack of ability.

• It is not always a lack of opportunity.

• It is not always a lack of resources.

• Sometimes, it is fear.

Fear takes many forms:

• Fear of failure.

• Fear of criticism.

• Fear of rejection.

• Fear of losing people.

• Fear of making the wrong decision.

• Fear of attempting something that has never been done before.

• Fear of discovering that we are not as capable as people believe we are.

Pastors do not always admit these fears.

• We know how to preach faith.

• We know the Scriptures.

• We know how to encourage someone else to trust God.

• We know how to tell the church that all things are possible.

But there are moments when the leader standing in front of everyone is privately wrestling with fear.

That does not necessarily mean he is weak.

It means he is human.

The question is not whether a leader will ever feel fear.

The question is whether fear will be allowed to lead him.

Courage Is Not the Absence of Fear

We sometimes imagine that courageous people never feel afraid.

That is not true.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is doing what is right when fear is telling you to retreat.

A courageous pastor may feel every emotion that another person feels.

• He may feel the uncertainty.

• He may recognize the danger.

• He may understand the cost.

• He may know that people will criticize him.

• He may realize that success is not guaranteed.

He simply decides that obedience to God is more important than comfort.

Paul told Timothy:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

—2 Timothy 1:7

Notice what God gives us in place of fear:

• Power to act.

• Love to keep our motives right.

• A sound mind to make wise decisions.

Biblical courage is not wild, careless, or driven by ego.

It is courageous obedience guided by love, wisdom, prayer, and the Spirit of God.

The Mountain Becomes More Frightening Near the Top

I have heard mountain climbers describe how fear can intensify as they approach the summit.

The higher they climb, the more clearly they can see the danger.

Near the bottom, the climber is surrounded by the mountain. Near the top, he can see how far he could fall.

As he nears the summit:

• The air is thinner.

• The body is tired.

• The path becomes more difficult.

• The danger becomes more visible.

• The possibility of falling feels more real.

The climber has already invested tremendous energy, but the final portion of the climb may demand more courage than everything that came before it.

Leadership can feel that way.

• As the church grows, the decisions become larger.

• As influence increases, the criticism can become louder.

• As more people depend upon the ministry, the consequences of a mistake can feel greater.

• As the vision expands, the cost of moving forward can increase.

Success does not always remove fear. Sometimes success gives us more to lose.

• A young pastor may fear that he will never build anything.

• An established pastor may fear losing what has already been built.

• A small-church pastor may fear stepping into a larger opportunity.

• A growing-church pastor may fear making the changes necessary to sustain that growth.

• An older pastor may fear releasing responsibility to the next generation.

• A younger leader may fear that no one will take him seriously.

The mountain changes, but the leader must still climb.

You cannot allow the fear created by elevation to keep you from reaching the place God has prepared for you.

Fear Often Sounds Reasonable

Fear rarely announces itself by saying, “I am afraid.”

Fear tries to sound like wisdom.

It says:

• “This may not be the right time.”

• “We should wait until everyone agrees.”

• “We need more information.”

• “Someone may leave.”

• “We have never done it that way.”

• “What if it does not work?”

• “What will other pastors think?”

• “Maybe someone else should do it.”

Any one of those concerns could be legitimate.

• There are times to wait.

• There are decisions that require more information.

• There are plans that should be reconsidered.

• There are moments when additional counsel is necessary.

But fear can borrow the language of wisdom to keep a leader from obeying God.

Pastor, you must learn to recognize the difference between caution and fear.

• Caution asks, “How can we do this wisely?” Fear declares, “We should not do it.”

• Caution prepares. Fear postpones.

• Caution seeks counsel. Fear keeps seeking opinions until it finds someone who agrees that nothing should change.

• Caution counts the cost. Fear uses the cost as an excuse for disobedience.

• Caution recognizes danger. Fear surrenders to it.

• Caution helps us prepare for the future. Fear keeps us trapped in the past.

Do not call fear wisdom simply because fear has learned to speak in a reasonable voice.

Joshua Had Every Reason to Be Afraid

Joshua was preparing to lead Israel into the Promised Land.

Moses was gone.

The people had spent years following one of the greatest leaders in Scripture. Now Joshua was expected to step into that position.

Joshua faced an enormous responsibility:

• He had to follow Moses.

• He had to lead a new generation.

• He had to enter unfamiliar territory.

• He had to confront fortified cities.

• He had to face dangerous enemies.

• He had to make decisions that would affect an entire nation.

Joshua could not borrow Moses’ courage.

He had to trust God for himself.

The Lord told him:

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land.”

—Joshua 1:6

Then God said it again:

“Only be thou strong and very courageous.”

—Joshua 1:7

And again:

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.”

—Joshua 1:9

Why did God repeat Himself?

Perhaps because Joshua needed to hear it more than once.

God was not condemning Joshua for feeling the weight of leadership. He was reminding Joshua that fear did not have to control him.

Pastor, God knows the responsibility you are carrying.

• He knows the decision you are facing.

• He knows the opposition you may encounter.

• He knows the people who are depending upon you.

• He knows the private questions you have not shared with anyone.

• He knows the consequences that keep running through your mind.

• He knows what it feels like to stand where you are standing.

The God who commanded Joshua to be courageous also promised to go with him.

Your courage is not built upon the belief that you can handle anything.

Your courage is built upon the knowledge that God will not leave you.

Courage Establishes Leadership

People are drawn to courageous leadership.

They may not agree with every decision, but they want to know that their leader believes in the direction he is taking them.

A congregation will have difficulty following a pastor who appears frightened by every obstacle.

• If the leader is continually uncertain, the church will become uncertain.

• If the leader panics, the church will feel the panic.

• If the leader continually retreats, the church will stop expecting progress.

• If the leader refuses to make difficult decisions, strong people will eventually lose confidence in his leadership.

Courage establishes leadership because courage provides direction.

David was willing to confront a giant that frightened an entire army.

The soldiers surrounding David appeared to have every advantage.

• They were older.

• They had more experience.

• They had better weapons.

• They had military training.

• They had armor.

• They understood the battlefield.

Yet they stood still.

David had something they had lost.

He had the courage to believe that Goliath was not greater than God.

“Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts.”

—1 Samuel 17:45

David’s courage did more than defeat Goliath.

His courage awakened courage in Israel.

• Before David acted, the army was hiding.

• Before David acted, Goliath controlled the battlefield.

• Before David acted, everyone was talking about the size of the giant.

• After David acted, the army began pursuing the Philistines.

That is what courageous leadership does.

It gives other people permission to believe again.

It reminds the church:

• God is still with us.

• The promise is still true.

• The enemy is not undefeatable.

• The obstacle is not greater than our calling.

• We do not have to remain where fear placed us.

One person’s courage can change the atmosphere of an entire church.

Courage Is Required to Create Change

Change requires courage because change makes people uncomfortable.

Even needed change can create resistance.

People become accustomed to:

• Familiar schedules.

• Familiar methods.

• Familiar ministries.

• Familiar leaders.

• Familiar expectations.

• Familiar ways of doing church.

The fact that something is familiar does not mean it is still effective.

A pastor must sometimes look honestly at the church and admit:

• This ministry is no longer working.

• This leader needs additional training.

• This position must change.

• This procedure is frustrating the church.

• This program no longer supports the mission.

• This problem will not correct itself.

• This opportunity will be lost if we refuse to move.

It takes courage to create needed change.

It also takes courage to communicate change with patience, wisdom, and love.

Courage does not mean walking into a meeting and declaring, “This is what we are doing, and I do not care what anyone thinks.”

That may not be courage.

That may be pride.

A courageous leader is willing to:

• Listen without surrendering the vision.

• Explain the reason for the change.

• Answer honest questions.

• Allow people time to understand.

• Admit where the plan may need improvement.

• Make the final decision when a decision must be made.

• Accept responsibility for the result.

Courage and humility are not enemies.

The strongest leader in the room should also be humble enough to listen.

Courage Is Required to Confront Problems

Many church problems survive because no one is willing to address them.

• Everyone knows the problem exists.

• People discuss it privately.

• Leaders complain about it in meetings.

• Volunteers work around it.

• The pastor loses sleep over it.

• But no one speaks directly to the person involved.

We hope the problem will somehow correct itself.

It usually does not.

Pastoral courage may require you to have a conversation you would rather avoid.

• You may need to correct a leader who has become careless.

• You may need to confront someone who is creating division.

• You may need to address an attitude that is damaging a ministry team.

• You may need to tell a faithful person that faithfulness alone does not make them effective in their present position.

• You may need to remove someone you sincerely love from leadership.

• You may need to apologize because you handled something incorrectly.

• You may need to admit that a ministry you started is not working.

Avoiding a difficult conversation does not normally make the problem smaller.

It gives the problem more time to grow.

Courage speaks the truth, but it speaks the truth in love.

The goal is not to win an argument.

The goal is to:

• Protect the church.

• Restore the person when possible.

• Preserve unity.

• Correct the problem.

• Keep the ministry healthy.

Courage Is Required to Release People

It takes courage to invest in other people.

The moment you give someone responsibility, you accept a measure of risk.

• They may make a mistake.

• They may do it differently than you would.

• They may receive recognition for something you helped them accomplish.

• They may eventually develop abilities that exceed your own.

• They may someday lead something larger than you have led.

Insecure leaders are frightened by strong people.

Courageous leaders develop them.

Moses could not personally lead every family, answer every question, and judge every matter. Jethro told him to select capable men and share the responsibility.

The apostles did not personally manage every need in the early church. They raised up others and gave them responsibility.

Paul developed Timothy, Titus, and many others.

Strong leaders understand:

• My success is not measured by how much the church depends upon me.

• My success is measured by how many people I help become useful in the Kingdom.

• My leadership is not weakened when another person becomes effective.

• My influence is multiplied when someone I trained begins training others.

• My legacy will be found in the people I prepare to carry the work forward.

It takes courage to release people.

But refusing to release them will place a ceiling upon the church.

Courage Is Required to Admit a Mistake

Some leaders can make a difficult decision but cannot admit when the decision was wrong.

That is not courage.

Courage is not pretending to be right all the time.

Real courage can say:

• “I was wrong.”

• “I moved too quickly.”

• “I should have listened.”

• “I misunderstood the situation.”

• “I did not communicate that properly.”

• “Please forgive me.”

• “We are going to correct it.”

A pastor does not lose credibility by honestly admitting a mistake.

He loses credibility when everyone knows he made a mistake but he continues pretending that he did not.

• People can forgive an honest mistake.

• People can understand an imperfect decision.

• People can accept that a leader is still growing.

• What people struggle to trust is pride.

Humility gives courage credibility.

Courage Must Be More Than Impulse

Pastors should be courageous, but we must not confuse courage with impulsiveness.

• Not every bold idea comes from God.

• Not every risky decision is faith.

• Not every critic is resisting the will of God.

• Not every closed door is an attack from the devil.

• Not every restless feeling is divine direction.

• Not every opportunity is an assignment.

Faith and foolishness can look similar at the beginning.

Time, fruit, counsel, and obedience often reveal the difference.

Before making a major decision:

• Pray until your spirit is settled.

• Search the Scriptures.

• Seek counsel from people who will tell you the truth.

• Examine your motives.

• Count the cost.

• Consider how the decision will affect your family and church.

• Ask whether you are responding to God or reacting to frustration.

• Be willing to wait if God has not yet given direction.

Once God gives direction, move forward.

Do not keep asking for confirmation because you are afraid to obey the confirmation you have already received.

Fear of People Can Silence God’s Direction

One of the greatest dangers in ministry is becoming more concerned about people’s reactions than God’s direction.

We must maintain the right heart toward the people we lead.

• We should love people.

• We should listen to people.

• We should seek wise counsel.

• We should consider how our decisions will affect others.

• We should communicate with patience and humility.

But we cannot allow people’s fear to become the pastor’s master.

Visionaries can lose their hunger for growth when continual resistance, doubt, and criticism begin wearing away their zeal.

Pastor, ask yourself honestly:

• Am I delaying this because God said wait, or because people may become upset?

• Am I protecting the unity of the church, or protecting myself from criticism?

• Am I seeking counsel, or seeking permission to obey God?

• Am I being patient, or am I paralyzed?

• Am I waiting for the right time, or hoping the responsibility will disappear?

• Am I leading the church, or allowing the most fearful voices to lead me?

There will always be resistance to forward movement.

• There will always be someone who prefers what is familiar.

• There will always be someone who can explain why the plan will not work.

• There will always be someone who believes the obstacle is too large.

• There will always be someone who wants another study, meeting, or delay.

• There will always be someone who is more comfortable discussing the promise than possessing it.

But there must also be someone who believes God.

Pastor, that person may need to be you.

Courage Sometimes Looks Like Remaining Faithful

Not every courageous decision is dramatic.

Courage is not always launching something new, confronting a giant, or making a public announcement.

Sometimes courage looks like:

• Preaching again after a discouraging Sunday.

• Continuing to love people after being wounded.

• Remaining faithful when growth is slow.

• Rebuilding a ministry that suffered a setback.

• Asking for help when you are overwhelmed.

• Resting before exhaustion damages your health and family.

• Staying in the will of God when another opportunity appears more attractive.

• Walking away when God clearly says a season is complete.

• Beginning again after something you attempted did not succeed.

There are different expressions of courage.

• There are seasons when courage charges forward.

• There are seasons when courage stands its ground.

• There are seasons when courage makes a change.

• There are seasons when courage waits upon God.

• There are seasons when courage simply refuses to quit.

Do not measure courage only by visible accomplishments.

Sometimes the most courageous thing a pastor does is get up on Monday morning, pray again, and remain faithful to the people God has called him to serve.

You Will Never Feel Completely Ready

• If you wait until you feel no fear, you may never move.

• If you wait until everyone agrees, you may never lead.

• If you wait until every question is answered, you may never begin.

• If you wait until failure is impossible, you are no longer walking by faith.

Leadership requires us to move while some questions remain unanswered.

That does not mean we move carelessly.

It means we have learned to trust God beyond the limits of our certainty.

Look at the examples Scripture gives us:

• Peter did not receive a complete explanation before stepping out of the boat.

• Abraham did not receive a map before leaving his homeland.

• Esther did not receive a guarantee before approaching the king.

• David did not wait for Goliath to become smaller.

• Joshua did not wait for the walls of Jericho to become weaker.

• Moses did not wait for the Red Sea to disappear.

They acted upon what God had spoken.

Pastor, consider what fear may be causing you to delay:

• What has God already spoken to you?

• What decision have you delayed because of fear?

• What conversation have you avoided?

• What opportunity continues standing in front of you?

• What step of obedience are you hoping someone else will take?

• What would you attempt if you knew criticism could not stop you?

Be Strong and of a Good Courage

God did not tell Joshua to feel courageous.

He told Joshua to be courageous.

Courage is a decision.

It is the decision that:

• Fear will not determine my direction.

• Criticism will not silence my calling.

• Failure will not become my identity.

• Past disappointment will not control my future.

• Other people’s limitations will not define what God can do.

• I will not refuse God because obedience makes me uncomfortable.

• I will move when God says move.

• I will wait when God says wait.

• I will stand when God says stand.

Pastor, the church does not need a reckless leader.

It does not need an arrogant leader.

It does not need a leader who pretends never to be afraid.

It needs a leader who has learned to take fear into the presence of God and come out carrying faith.

The mountain may be high.

The path may be difficult.

The responsibility may be greater than you expected.

But if God has called you to climb, do not allow the view from the mountain to frighten you back into the valley.

• Be strong.

• Be wise.

• Be humble.

• Be prayerful.

• Be courageous.

The people you lead may be waiting for your courage to awaken courage within them.

Related Articles and Sermon Resources

• The Victorious Sword — A sermon outline from David and Goliath for those who have felt like the underdog facing an overwhelming adversary.

• Prepared in Advance — A faith-building sermon showing how God prepares His people before they encounter the battle.

• Do Not Be Afraid — A sermon resource declaring that believers do not have to remain bound by fear.

• The Myth of the Invincible Leader — Encouragement for pastors who feel the pressure to appear strong at all times.

• Lead On… — Practical direction for casting vision and leading a congregation through fear and resistance.

• Visit PastoralHelps.com for books and practical leadership-training materials for pastors and ministry teams.

• Learn how you can help care for orphaned and at-risk children in India through OpportunityHope.org.

About Pastor James Smith

Pastor James Smith of Valparaiso, Indiana, is the founder of PreachIt.org, OpportunityHope.org, and PastoralHelps.com.

For more than two decades, he has equipped pastors and church leaders with sermon resources, practical leadership training, and encouragement for the challenges of ministry. His writing grows out of a burden to help pastors lead with wisdom, remain faithful to their calling, and develop healthy, growing churches.

Through OpportunityHope, Pastor Smith also helps care for orphaned and at-risk children in West Bengal, India. The ministry provides food, shelter, education, clean-water wells, livestock, and other practical assistance to children, families, pastors, and communities in need.

Books and practical ministry-training resources, including Momentum in Ministry, are available through PastoralHelps.com.