It takes a great deal of courage to follow another person's lead.

"It takes a great deal of courage to follow another person’s lead." — Bill Hybels

So spoke Bill Hybels, a man who devoted his life to understanding leadership, faith, and the quiet strength that binds them. In this profound saying, he unveils a truth that runs against the grain of pride and ego — that courage is not found only in the one who commands, but also in the one who follows. The world often glorifies the leader who stands before the crowd, yet seldom honors the follower who must trust, surrender, and obey with faith. To follow another’s lead demands humility of heart, discernment of mind, and the rare strength to yield without losing one’s spirit. It is an act not of weakness, but of deep and disciplined bravery.

For in the art of following lies a paradox: the follower must give up control, yet not conscience; must obey, yet not blindly; must trust, yet not surrender reason. It takes courage to step behind another, to say, “I will walk where you walk,” when the path ahead is uncertain. The coward hides in rebellion or indifference, but the courageous soul — the one who follows wisely — carries a different kind of power, one born of trust, loyalty, and restraint. This is a noble courage, quiet but unyielding, the courage of those who believe not only in themselves, but in something greater — a leader, a vision, or a cause worth following.

The ancients knew this well. The soldiers of Leonidas at Thermopylae followed their king into certain death. They did not command; they obeyed. Yet their obedience was not submission born of fear, but devotion born of conviction. Their leader’s courage became their own, and their following became legend. Each man could have fled, could have sought safety in the hills — but they stood. And in standing, they proved that to follow with courage is to share in the greatness of the one you follow. Theirs was not the courage of defiance, but of faith. And history remembers them not as slaves to authority, but as partners in glory.

So it is in all human endeavor. The disciple who walks behind a master, the student who listens to a teacher, the soldier who trusts his commander — these are not lesser souls. They are the foundation upon which greatness is built. To follow well is an act of discipline, of humility that strengthens rather than weakens. The wise follower does not lose themselves in imitation, but grows through trust. They understand that following is not servitude; it is the apprenticeship of the soul. From obedience comes wisdom; from submission, mastery. For even the greatest leaders once followed. Every Caesar was once a soldier; every sage was once a student.

Consider the story of Joshua, who served under Moses. For years, he walked behind, watching, learning, enduring — through desert wanderings, through rebellion, through divine silence. When Moses was gone, the mantle of leadership fell upon him, and he led his people into the Promised Land. Joshua’s greatness was not born in the day of command, but in the long years of faithful following. His courage to follow another man’s lead prepared him to one day lead himself. Thus, Hybels’ wisdom holds true: those who follow with courage are the ones who rise in strength, for they have learned the sacred art of trust.

And yet, how rare this courage is in our age! The world prizes independence above harmony, self-expression above cooperation. We are taught to lead, but not to follow; to command, but not to listen. Yet no symphony can exist without harmony, no army without ranks, no society without faith in one another. To follow with courage is to believe in the wisdom of unity — to understand that one’s strength is magnified through shared purpose. It is to say, “I will lend my will to yours, that together we may achieve what neither could alone.” This, too, is heroism.

So, my listener, learn this lesson and carry it into your days: follow bravely when the cause is just, and the leader worthy. Do not mistake submission for cowardice, nor obedience for weakness. The courage to follow is the courage to trust, to learn, to grow. If you would one day lead with honor, you must first learn to follow with grace. Choose your leaders wisely — not those who command fear, but those who inspire faith — and when you find them, follow not as a servant, but as a comrade in purpose.

For in the end, as Bill Hybels reminds us, the courage to follow is the seed from which all great leadership blooms. The follower’s faith gives birth to the leader’s strength, and through both, the world moves forward. Therefore, honor those who lead with vision — but also those who follow with heart. For without them, no kingdom can stand, no cause can triumph, and no light can endure.