Trust is the currency of leadership. Without it, nothing sustainable can be built. People don’t follow titles—they follow leaders they trust. And that trust isn’t built overnight. It takes consistency, integrity, and humility over time. Proverbs 3:3-4 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (NIV)

Why Trust Matters
Trust affects everything—from team morale and performance to innovation and retention. When people trust you, they’ll follow you through challenges. Without trust, every decision is questioned and every change feels like a threat. Trust makes leadership lighter; the lack of it makes leadership lonely.

How to Build Trust Intentionally

• Be consistent – Do what you say you’ll do. Show up the same way every day.
• Tell the truth – Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
• Own your mistakes – People don’t expect perfection, but they do expect honesty.
• Be for your people – Celebrate their wins. Advocate for their growth. Care about their lives.

When Trust Is Broken
Every leader will drop the ball at some point. When that happens, the best thing you can do is acknowledge it and take steps to rebuild. Apologize sincerely. Ask for feedback. And be patient—trust takes time to restore. Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” There is grace for leaders who are willing to walk humbly.

Trust Starts With You
You can’t control how others lead—but you can control how you show up. Start by being the kind of leader you would want to follow. Be trustworthy in small things. Lead with integrity when no one’s watching. And over time, your consistency will create a culture of trust.

Every leader has a voice—but not every leader has found it. Your voice isn’t just your communication style; it’s the unique combination of your convictions, experiences, and personality that shapes how you lead and influence others. Too often, leaders try to imitate someone else’s tone or presence, but true impact happens when you lead from a place of authenticity.

Be Yourself
It’s tempting to mimic the style of a mentor, boss, or influencer we admire. But when we copy someone else’s voice, we lose the very thing that makes our leadership meaningful. You weren’t created to be a duplicate. You were created to reflect Christ through your own life, wiring, and story.

Galatians 6:4 says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” (NIV). Find your voice—not someone else’s echo.

Your past, both the wins and the wounds, has shaped you. When you embrace your story, you lead with vulnerability and strength. People don’t want perfection—they want real. God has used everything in your life to mold you into the leader you are today.

2 Corinthians 1:4 says God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Your voice carries power when it flows from your story.

Lead Authentically
As a leader, your voice should bring confidence and direction. That doesn’t mean you have to be loud—but it does mean you need to be clear and rooted in your values. Proverbs 16:23 says, “The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.” (NIV). Clarity builds trust. Consistency builds influence.

Finding your voice doesn’t mean making it all about you. It means becoming a vessel for God’s message. Lead in a way that points to Christ. Speak in a way that reflects grace and truth. Let your unique voice echo His mission and heart.

The world doesn’t need more copy-paste leaders. It needs more leaders who are real, grounded, and walking closely with Jesus. Your voice matters—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s yours. Find it. Refine it. And use it to build up others and glorify God.

Leadership is demanding. The weight of responsibility, decision-making, and serving others can be exhausting. But too many leaders wear burnout like a badge of honor, pushing themselves past healthy limits. Rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Even Jesus, in the midst of His ministry, took time to withdraw and rest. Mark 6:31 (NIV) tells us, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” 

The Danger of Overwork
The world rewards hustle, but constant overwork leads to exhaustion, poor decision-making, and diminished effectiveness. When leaders neglect rest, they risk leading from a place of depletion rather than strength.

• Physical burnout – Lack of rest drains energy, weakens the immune system, and leads to long-term health issues.
• Mental fatigue – Decision fatigue and stress cloud judgment, making leadership more reactive than intentional.
• Spiritual dryness – Neglecting rest affects our time with God, making it harder to lead with clarity and conviction.

Biblical Rest as a Leadership Principle
God designed rest as a rhythm for life and leadership.

• Sabbath is a command, not a suggestion – Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Resting isn’t laziness—it’s obedience.
  
• Jesus modeled rest – He frequently stepped away from the crowds to pray and recharge (Luke 5:16). If Jesus needed rest, so do we.
  
• Rest restores perspective – In 1 Kings 19, Elijah was physically and emotionally drained, but after rest, he was able to hear God’s voice again. Sometimes, clarity comes after we step back.

How to Build Rest into Leadership
Rest doesn’t just happen—we must be intentional.

• Schedule Sabbath and honor it – Block time for rest and renewal. Protect it like any other commitment.
  
• Prioritize sleep and self-care – A leader who rests leads better. Your effectiveness increases when you’re physically and mentally well.
  
• Step away to gain clarity – Take breaks from work, screens, and responsibilities. Time away often brings fresh insight.
  
• Trust God with what you leave undone – Rest is an act of faith, acknowledging that God is in control.

Lead from a Place of Renewal
Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. If we want to be effective for the long haul, we must learn to lead from rest, not exhaustion. The best leaders aren’t the ones who burn out for the cause—they’re the ones who sustain their leadership by trusting God’s design for rest.

Great leaders are both strong and humble. Too much strength without humility leads to arrogance and control. Too much humility without strength results in passivity and indecisiveness. True leadership requires balancing confidence with a servant’s heart, knowing when to stand firm and when to step back. Jesus embodied this perfectly—strong in His convictions yet humble in His approach.

​Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (NIV).

Strength That Serves
Leadership isn’t about dominance—it’s about using strength for the good of others. Jesus was the most powerful leader to ever walk the earth, yet He washed His disciples’ feet. He confronted sin but did so in love. He had the authority of heaven but chose to bear the cross. Strength in leadership isn’t about asserting power—it’s about standing firm in truth while serving those you lead.

The Power of Humility
Humility isn’t weakness—it’s knowing your strengths and using them to elevate others. It’s being teachable, open to feedback, and willing to admit mistakes. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (NIV). Humble leaders recognize that leadership is not about them—it’s about the people they serve and the mission they pursue.

Confidence vs. Humility
The best leaders aren’t afraid to take decisive action, but they also aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know.” They listen more than they speak. They lead with conviction but remain approachable. Strength and humility don’t compete with each other—they complement each other. A leader secure in their identity doesn’t need to prove their authority; they simply live it out.

Lead with Both
Ask yourself:

• Do I err too much on the side of control, or do I hesitate to lead with strength?
• Am I open to learning and correction?

True leadership isn’t about choosing between strength and humility—it’s about living in the tension of both. Lead with confidence, but let humility shape your impact.

Great leaders never stop learning. The moment we believe we’ve arrived is the moment we begin to decline. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about staying teachable, growing in wisdom, and adapting to new challenges. Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (NIV). Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and leaders who embrace it set themselves apart.

In the Church of the Nazarene, we take lifelong learning seriously. Our denomination requires Lifelong Learning Hours for pastors and ministry leaders, providing many opportunities for continued growth. Whether through courses, workshops, or personal study, we are encouraged to pursue ongoing education and development.

Learn from Experience
Some of the greatest lessons don’t come from books or conferences—they come from life itself. I’ve learned more through failures, challenges, and unexpected situations than I ever could in a classroom. Real learning happens when we reflect on our experiences, seek feedback, and apply what we’ve gained to the next challenge. The best leaders aren’t just knowledgeable; they’re adaptable and willing to learn from every situation.

Surrounded by Growth
You can tell a lot about a leader by the people they surround themselves with. Are they people who challenge, inspire, and push for growth? Or are they content with stagnation? That’s why I intentionally keep myself connected with accountability partners and mentors who encourage my spiritual and personal growth. Reading through the Bible in a Year with others keeps me grounded in Scripture and reminds me that no matter how much I think I know, God always has more to teach me.

Thinking You’ve Arrived?
The moment a leader stops learning is the moment they stop leading effectively. Leaders who assume they know it all will eventually find themselves outpaced by those who remain curious, humble, and open to growth. Philippians 3:12 reminds us, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (NIV). Even Paul, one of the greatest leaders in history, recognized that he was still growing. If he wasn’t done learning, neither are we.

Commit to Growth

• What are you doing right now to grow as a leader?
• Are you reading, learning from others, and allowing God to stretch you? 

Take some time this week to identify one area where you need to grow and make a plan to develop it. Whether it’s reading a book, seeking out a mentor, or reflecting on a recent challenge, commit to learning.

​Leaders who keep growing are the ones who leave a lasting impact.

Integrity isn’t just about doing the right thing when people are watching—it’s about who you are when no one’s around. Leaders with integrity build trust, credibility, and strong teams. Without it, everything else crumbles. Proverbs 10:9 says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (NIV). Integrity provides security—it ensures that our leadership isn’t built on a shaky foundation.

Caught Not Taught
When my family first moved to Tumwater, WA, as I started my new job as Youth Pastor of a local church, we attended a family carnival event in the Children's area. We hadn’t had breakfast before church and had planned to go to lunch afterward, so we were all running on empty. They offered simple lunches—hotdog, chips, and soda—but the church wasn’t set up to take card payments, and I didn’t have any cash on me.

I asked the volunteer taking money if I could pay later, and she said, “Being as you’re the new Youth Pastor, we can probably trust you.” Before I could respond, my 11-year-old daughter spoke up sternly: “If my dad says he's going to pay you later, he'll pay you later. My dad doesn’t lie!” Her words hit me hard because they reminded me of something important—integrity isn’t something we teach with words alone; it’s something we model through our actions. I had never sat my daughter down and told her I was a man of integrity, but she had seen it in my daily life. She knew it to be true because she had witnessed it firsthand.

Walking the Walk
Throughout my life, I’ve seen leaders who demand high standards from others but fail to meet those standards themselves. That’s not real leadership. I’ve learned that integrity means holding myself accountable to the same principles I expect from others. That’s why I intentionally surround myself with accountability partners, including those who are joining me in reading through the Bible in a Year. It’s easy to tell others to be in the Word daily—it’s another thing to live it out and let Scripture shape my leadership.

Integrity isn’t just about big moments—it’s about small, everyday decisions. It’s about showing up when you say you will, following through on promises, and choosing honesty even when it’s inconvenient. If we cut corners in the little things, we’ll eventually compromise in the big things.

The Call to Live with Integrity
James 1:22 reminds us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (NIV). Leadership with integrity isn’t just about knowing what’s right—it’s about living it. If we expect others to trust us, we must first prove that we are trustworthy.

So ask yourself:

• Am I the same person in private that I am in public?
  
• Do my actions reflect the values I claim to hold?
  

The answer to these questions will determine the kind of leader you are becoming.

Leading Yourself First
Leadership isn’t about barking orders from the sidelines. It starts with self-discipline, setting the example, and proving to yourself and others that you can do the work before expecting it from them. One of the quickest ways to lose credibility as a leader is to adopt a “Do as I say, not as I do” mentality. True leadership begins with leading yourself well—physically, mentally, and ethically.

As part of my own self-leadership journey, some accountability partners and I have begun reading through the Bible in a Year. I’ve often encouraged others to be in the Word daily, and this commitment helps me practice the same spiritual discipline while adding a layer of accountability.

Setting the Standard
I’ve been a martial artist my whole life, and one of the core principles of our Kenpo system is that we never ask a lower belt to do something we aren’t willing to do ourselves. That requires personal discipline and a commitment to self-leadership. When a white or yellow belt struggled with conditioning, I’d drop and do 100 push-ups right alongside them. Not only did it prove I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I couldn’t do, but it also helped them realize they were capable of more than they believed. When they saw me doing it, they found the strength to push through.

A similar thing happened when I was coaching 8th grade football. During conditioning, I called out the team for sandbagging—holding back instead of pushing themselves. One player, feeling bold, shot back, “I don’t see you running, Coach!” Instead of just reinforcing authority, I led by example. I told the team that he and I would race. If he won, conditioning was over for the day. If I won, they were running wind sprints. Let’s just say those wind sprints happened—and I believe they made us better as a team. That year, we took first place, not just because of talent, but because of discipline and a leadership mindset that started with me.

The Biblical Model of Self-Leadership
People follow leaders who are willing to put in the work alongside them. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (NIV). That’s the model—leading by doing. Jesus didn’t just tell His disciples what to do; He lived it out in front of them. He withdrew for prayer, fasted, and showed discipline in every aspect of His life. If we want to lead others well, we have to lead ourselves first.

My commitment to daily Bible reading is another example of this. If I encourage others to be in the Word, I need to be doing it myself. Engaging with Scripture consistently strengthens my leadership and ensures that my guidance is rooted in truth.

Challenge: Master Yourself Before Leading Others
As leaders, whether in ministry, business, or life, self-leadership is the foundation for everything else. Our people shouldn’t just hear what we expect; they should see it in how we live. When you hold yourself to the same standards you expect from others, your leadership becomes authentic and powerful. So the next time you set expectations, ask yourself—am I leading myself first in the same way I expect others to follow?