The Leadership Paradox: Finding Strength in Surrender
Introduction: The Leadership Paradox
In a world that celebrates charismatic leaders, goal-driven achievers, and visionary movers and shakers, the quest for leadership excellence often leads us down a path of self-improvement, skill-building, and strategic planning. We strive to speak more effectively, manage more efficiently, and motivate more passionately. Yet, in all our efforts to grow as leaders, we often overlook the most fundamental aspect of leadership—the need to be led.
True leadership is not found in the accumulation of knowledge, experience, or accolades. It is rooted in something deeper, more enduring, and infinitely more powerful: a relationship with the One who calls and equips us to lead. Without this, all the books, seminars, and strategies in the world will fail to produce the kind of leadership that truly transforms lives and leaves an eternal impact.
This blog dives into the single most critical mistake that leaders often make—a mistake that, thankfully, is simple to correct. It’s not about techniques or tactics; it’s about alignment with the ultimate source of wisdom, guidance, and purpose.
Read on to discover how this fundamental shift can redefine your leadership journey and elevate it from human ambition to divine direction.
Your Biggest Leadership Mistake: It’s Simpler Than You Think
Your biggest leadership mistake is not tied to your struggle with public speaking or your lack of a driven, go-getter mentality. It has nothing to do with your difficulties multitasking or managing those under your authority. You might spend years devouring leadership books, attending conferences, and sharpening your leadership skills, yet you could still miss the mark. The greatest mistake leaders make is neglecting a foundational principle: spending time in God’s Word.
Instead of being led by God, you are trying to lead on your own.
You Cannot Serve a God You Don’t Know
Your relationship with God determines your ability to influence, guide, and serve others. If you don’t know Him personally, how can you speak about Him, teach others about Him, or serve Him with purpose? Knowledge of God cannot be based solely on bestselling books or popular sermons. If your understanding of God is limited to a one-hour Sunday service or mistaking Christian fellowship for spiritual growth, you do not truly know Him.
Spending time in His Word involves more than a five-minute devotional or randomly skimming Bible passages. You cannot know someone without truly understanding them, and this understanding requires dedicated time. Getting to know God involves delving into His past, present, and future as revealed in His Word, which inevitably changes you.
Move On from Milk to Solid Food
As Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) states, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." If you’re serious about knowing God, you’ll rearrange your schedule to prioritize spending time with Him. You won’t merely skim the Word; you will dig deeper, learning the context, the culture, and the intention behind the passages. You will use all available resources to study, interpret, and understand the scriptures. Only through this effort can you draw near to the Father’s heart.
You Cannot Lead If You Cannot Listen
Do you struggle to listen? Is it difficult to tune out the distractions of the world and focus on hearing God’s voice? Are you more concerned with telling God what you need rather than listening for what He wants from you? Perhaps it’s time to shorten your list of requests and approach the Lord with a blank page, ready to receive. You’ll find far more insight that way, rather than trying to fit God into your plans.
You Cannot Show The Way If You Cannot Read Your Compass
Proverbs 3:6 (NIV) tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Acknowledging God in all your ways does not mean letting God in on all your plans. It is a call-to-action for submission. Your plans are futile unless they are founded on and based on the knowledge of the Lord. Your compass is the Word. If you do not know how to read, interpret, analyze, and study the Word, you will lead from human intellect, rather than Godly wisdom.
You Cannot Serve Two Masters
Matthew 6:24 (ESV) says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” There is a reason why the Bible calls money “The Root of All Evil” and not “The Root of Some Evil.” Think about it. Money is often the driving factor behind most decisions—whether you’re a volunteer, church staff, executive pastor, CEO, or home income provider. Money appears to bring stability, growth, employment, and a greater chance to serve and impact more people. But does it, really?
When we replace God’s principle with anything else, even something as seemingly necessary as money, we miss the true purpose. When God is not our Master, something else will be. And you can bet that decisions, influence, and impact made under any other master will lack eternal value.
The Simple Solution: Realigning Your Leadership
The biggest leadership mistake is surprisingly simple to fix. Before you take on anything that might improve your ability to lead with excellence, take up God’s Word that will improve your ability to lead with wisdom, grace, and an eternal perspective. Prioritize spending time in the Word. Seek to know Him deeply. Let His wisdom guide you. Then, and only then, will your leadership be aligned with a purpose that transcends time.
Leadership isn’t about how much you know or how well you can strategize—it’s about how deeply you are connected to the source of all wisdom and direction. Take the step today to be led before you lead.
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