Lead With Courage
The Fire Beneath the Bradley
In Baghdad, in 2006, we were fighting every single day. Roadside bombs. RPGs. Snipers. Triggers you couldn’t see and consequences you couldn’t avoid. It was chaos. And it was terrifying.
But one day, the fear penetrated deeper than usual.
Our sister platoon—brothers we trained with, laughed with, and trusted with our lives—was headed toward a target in their armored Bradley vehicle. Inside were several soldiers, packed in tight. As they rolled forward, an IED hidden beneath the street exploded directly under the belly of their vehicle.
It flipped the Bradley. The fire sealed the door shut. We lost every soldier inside.
I had friends in that vehicle. My soldiers had friends in that vehicle. In a war zone already heavy with fear, this shattered us.
We grieved. We held a memorial. And the next morning… we went back out on another patrol.
Because the mission wasn’t over. Because leadership demands we go again, even when we’re afraid.
Courage Isn’t the Absence of Fear
That next day was one of the hardest days of my life. We had information that the enemy was out there again—preparing more ambushes, planting more bombs. My soldiers knew it, too. And yet, I had to lead them into that fear. I had to motivate, equip, and guide them into the same streets where their friends had just died.
I wish I could say I wasn’t afraid. But I was. We all were.
That’s the truth no one likes to admit:
Great leaders feel fear. But great leaders keep moving anyway.
And the only way I was able to lead in that moment was because of my spiritual strength.
The Spirit That Strengthens Leaders
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
– 2 Timothy 1:7
When we pray, we often ask God to remove our fear.
But more often, He gives us something better: the strength to face it.
He doesn’t promise the absence of chaos—He promises His presence through it.
Leadership in dark times isn’t about pretending to be fearless. It’s about believing God is with you in the fear. That He has equipped you with a spirit stronger than what’s against you.
Courage is not the lack of fear. Courage is action in the presence of fear—because your faith is bigger.
Honor Through Action: Memorial Day and Beyond
This Memorial Day, I invite you to pause.
Honor those who gave everything. Men and women who lived with courage, loved their country, and died for the freedoms we enjoy.
But don’t stop at remembrance only. Take action.
Here’s how you can live out their legacy today:
Lead through fear – Whatever you're facing, step forward with trust, not in your own strength, but in the spirit God placed within you.
Talk to your children – Teach them what real sacrifice looks like. Help them understand courage, honor, and service.
Live for something greater – Whether it’s your faith, your family, your mission, or your team—lead for a cause that outlives you.
This Is What a Steady Leader Does
You don’t have to be in a war zone to face fear. Everyday leadership is filled with uncertainty: Hard conversations. Risky decisions. Leading people through loss, challenge, and chaos.
But every time you choose courage over comfort…
Every time you trust God in the fire…
Every time you lead anyway…
You grow stronger.
You grow braver.
You become a Steady Leader.
Remembering and honoring those who gave all – today and always.
Stay steady,
Schuyler
Written by Schuyler Williamson
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God Bless!
~ Schuyler Williamson