4. Serve faithfully before becoming a leader.

The Israelites no doubt knew of Joshua’s faithfulness. They knew his reputation as a willing servant. Exodus 17 shows how much Moses trusted Joshua. The Amalekites attacked them, and Moses commanded Joshua to gather warriors together and fight. Verse 10 says, “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered.”

We may be meeting a new congregation, or we may have served the same women’s group for many years. Either way, our reputation will follow us. God is developing and preparing us through our experiences. While we wait for God’s timing, let’s be known for our faithful commitment. It is through years of steadfast serving that we learn the skills needed to be effective leaders.

Developing trust takes time. Several years passed between Joshua’s charge against the Amalekites and his call to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, and we may find that it takes years for us, too. But women leaders have God’s assurance that he is with us every step, just as he was with Joshua. When we follow Joshua’s example, we will create an authentic atmosphere of mutual trust. Through our unity, God will guide our group into the good work he called us to do.

Kristine Brown is a communicator at heart who teaches about God’s powerful, relatable Word. She is the author of Over It. Conquering Comparison to Live Out God’s Plan and founder of the non-profit organization, More Than Yourself, Inc. Kristine writes about her God-story and helps others discover their own at www.morethanyourself.com.