Many leaders have defined or proven their deepest values in moments of personal vulnerability. Read Matthew 4:1-11.

Jesus was approximately 30 years old. He had been baptized by John the Baptist and His ministry was about to go public. Following His baptism, Jesus spent an extended period of time in the Judean wilderness fasting and praying. At the end of a 40-day fast Satan came to Jesus with visions that would have Him go against His deepest core values for personal gratification at the expense of His relationship with God. Jesus chose to trust God. From what we read in today’s verses it is obvious that at least part of Jesus’ preparation for ministry came during this time of personal vulnerability.

God requires leaders to use all the skill He has given them while depending on Him for the outcome. Read Zechariah 4:1-9.

Zerubbabel was among the first group of exiled Hebrews to return from Babylonian captivity. God’s first assignment and His number one priority was to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem that Babylon had destroyed some 70 years earlier. He had a difficult assignment. When God tasked Solomon to build the original temple he had nearly unlimited resources, a willing workforce and Israel was at peace with their neighbors. Zerubbabel had strong opposition, a small demoralized workforce and very limited resources. With all these elements against him, Zerubbabel had allowed the construction to grind to a halt. At this low moment, through Zechariah, God reminds Zerubbabel and all the people that they would succeed but not because of their own might and power; He would be their source of victory.

Tough times reveal the genuineness of a leader’s commitment. Read Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Habakkuk had expressed frustration and some disillusionment with God’s decision to use the Babylonians to bring judgment on the Jewish people. His commitment to God “seemed” to be hinged to God’s justifying His actions. Something changed between chapter 1 and chapter 3. Habakkuk saw God as his sovereign and Lord and committed everything in his life to serve Him. Habakkuk concludes his book with a ringing declaration of his commitment.

God-honoring leaders learn to embrace the lesson God teaches during the “waiting” process. Read Habakkuk 2:1-20.

Habakkuk wrote his prophecy in approximately 607 B. C. The Babylonian army captured and destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the residents in 586 B. C. Between the prophecy and the capture of Jerusalem the evil heaped on the people by the leaders in Judah continued unabated. Habakkuk teaches us that leaders must learn to trust God and cherish the waiting time before they get their answers. It was during the years of waiting that God did a work in Habakkuk’s heart. He changed him from a man with questions about God’s character to a faithful leader that could say, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord” 3:17-18a.

Even reluctant leaders can be used by God. Read Jonah 1:1-17 and 3:1-3.

Jonah left no doubt how he felt about giving any encouragement or hope to the Assyrians living in Nineveh. He knew them to be a cruel, idolatrous, proud, ruthless people and even though he was a God-chosen prophet, when God commanded him to preach repentance to the Ninevites, Jonah went the opposite direction. Rather than be too quick to judge Jonah we should ask who among us, which leader hasn’t sensed God telling them to do something they really didn’t want to do. It can be pretty easy to convince ourselves that we know better than God in some circumstances.