There’s a story from 1990 after Iraq’s then-dictator Saddam Hussein invaded the tiny Middle Eastern nation of Kuwait. The question filled the world's collective thoughts: What would the Western nations do? What would America do?

President George H.W Bush hesitated. The story goes that British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher met President Bush in Colorado and "stiffened his spine,” reportedly saying, “George, this is not a time to go wobbly.” Out of this came a resolve to gather a coalition of nations, invade Kuwait and kick out the Iraqi troops. Done and done—mission accomplished in a little more than three months in early 1991.

President Bush needed a little prod from another leader. It transformed his leadership and resulted in decisive military action. Many analysts have debated whether President Bush left unfinished business by not driving on to Baghdad and removing Hussein from power. But that is another story.

Think for a moment about how even leaders of powerful nations can need a bit of prodding to accomplish significant actions. Transformation often comes by a pointed nudge of a close associate or friend. There is a story from the book of Judges that details a similar occasion when God was moving the tribes of Israel to overthrow a despotic tyrant. It occurs in Joshua 4, when a prophetess named Deborah led the tribes in the role of a “judge”—a position of leadership that was often used in the period. Deborah led, or “judged” the tribes in the role of a leader (Judges 4:5).

Israel had come out of a 20-year period of servitude to the surrounding Canaanite powers. Deborah had a plan of action from God. She told the leading general of the combined armies, Barak, to take 10,000 men and attack the enemy, explaining that God would “deliver him into your hand” (Judges 4:6-7).

Barak—a man I imagine to be a tough burly general of the army—says to Deborah, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” In the annals of military war this stands out as an unusual situation. The leading fighting man of the time needing the support of a woman to enter battle. Deborah agrees to go with him, but she tells him, “There will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9).

The armies deploy and God does give them a stunning victory. Chapter five is a long song of victory composed by Deborah and Barak. That Deborah’s name appears first indicates she was the lead composer of the song. What we have here is a shared victory—shared glory. And this is acceptable. The end result is the freedom of the tribes from the Canaanite oppression. Barak would not have had any glory had he not allowed himself to be motivated by Deborah to take action.

I am led to speculate that after this event, Barak became a stronger, more confident leader. That he learned faith and courage in the face of adversity through the stalwart character of Deborah, a woman who had to defy no small amount of bias against women to rise to the position she held.

Be willing to learn from every challenging experience that comes your way. Trust God to put in your path the right people to help you have courage to face the battles of life. Barak needed Deborah to go with him. If that was what was needed, then so be it. We might never have heard from him if the story did not roll out in this way.

The lesson is, be willing to share the byline of life with others who help you write the words of the song.