Rooted and Refreshed

Your Soul Matters: Leadership Begins Within

If I've learned anything over the course of leadership as a Christian woman it's that, leadership in a broken world is hard. Running on mission doesn't make you immune to exhaustion, discouragement or burnout. In fact, sometimes its the mission field where those feelings show up the most.

I am currently halfway through seminary, finishing up Maycember (moms, you know what I'm talking about) and gearing up for a summer filled with a few trips and less structure but still the same amount of work to do. If I'm being fully honest with you, I'm tired. I'm worn down. I am not going into summer refreshed and with a free spirit. This season of life is hard, it's stretching me and pruning me. But it's also the mission field that God has placed me in. And, in seasons like this, I've learned that surviving isn't the goal- staying spiritually alive and revived is.

Taking up His yoke

I often return to Matthew 11:28–30 during seasons when life feels like an uphill climb—like I’m dragging a wagon full of rocks. Maybe you can relate. My yoke can feel heavy, burdensome, and ill-fitting, rubbing raw against my spirit. In those moments, I need the reminder that Jesus has traded yokes with me. Through submission to Him as Savior and by remembering His work on the cross, I’m invited into a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.

I love what The Message version says, "Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you." Staying spiritually alive in seasons of exhaustion and burnout means staying connected to the lifeline of our souls—Jesus. When my yoke feels crushing or my spirit is chafing, it’s usually a sign that I’ve drifted from walking and working with Him. His grace offers unforced rhythms. His presence brings true rest.

What does this look like practically?

I was having a conversation with a seasoned leader a while ago, and they introduced me to a practice that has transformed the way I look at myself, others, and the way that I enter conversations. They mentioned that before a meeting they were leading, they asked everyone to perform a soul check-in and share the number on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best. They mentioned that it helped them to understand where people where emotionally, physically and spiritually before going into a conversation with expectations- and I loved it.

Each morning and afternoon, I pause for a simple soul check-in by asking myself, “Where are you spiritually, emotionally, and physically right now?” On busy days, it can feel like I’m rushing from one task to the next, barely coming up for air. This small, intentional practice helps me slow down, reflect inwardly, and adjust my pace if needed. It gives me space to notice whether I need to pause—to nourish myself with a snack, a drink, movement, or prayer—or whether I can keep moving forward at the pace I’ve set.

I love this practice so much that we’ve made it a regular part of our small group meetings. It’s become a key touchpoint for me as a leader—a way to understand where the souls God has entrusted to us are feeling the weight of a broken world. This is vital in soul leadership because leadership isn’t about saying one thing and doing another. It’s about modeling what soul care looks like. God didn’t entrust you with roles; He entrusted you with souls.

As I’ve leaned more intentionally into soul leadership, I’ve found it essential to stay rooted and resourced myself. Caring for others begins with tending to our souls first. Over time, I’ve come across a few books that have deeply shaped how I approach soul care as a leader. These resources have helped me create rhythms of rest, reflection, and renewal—and I’d love to share some of my favorites with you.

My favorite Soul Care Resources

Tired of Being Tired

Jess Connolly is the resource for identifying where exhaustion lies and how to restore rest.

Soul Care

Debra Fileta helps you to identify life giving rhythms and live in fullness. I love that she is a licensed counselor and speaks to mental health.

The Spiritually Healthy Leader

Dave Wiedis combines his years of counseling Christian leaders with actionable gospel- focused direction steps for vibrant leadership.

Relaxed

Megan Fate Marshman helps us to reject cultural norms of high performance and walk in freedom with God towards peace, purpose and contentment.

My Prayer for you...

Dear friend, my prayer for you is that in the midst of all you carry, you would remember that you are deeply loved by God, not for what you do, but for who you are. I pray you find space today to breathe, to rest, and to reconnect with the One who restores your soul. May you walk in the unforced rhythms of His grace, knowing that He won’t place anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
May your leadership flow from a well-tended soul, and may you always lead from a place of being led by Him. But mostly friend, I pray that you know you are worthy, you are loved, and you are commissioned in this moment with purpose.

Reflection Questions:

So often we consume things: social media posts, books, podcasts with the intention of change. My hope is that these weekly reflection questions would give you the opportunity to journal or pray over what we're digging into for the week for lasting change.

How is my soul? Where have I been leading on empty? What would it look like to lead from overflow?