I once believed leadership was something I needed to pursue and position myself for. Over time, I realized that chasing influence can quietly pull us away from the people and responsibilities already entrusted to us. Faithful leadership isn’t something we run after—it’s something we receive as we walk attentively with God.

Mondays have a way of revealing what we’re trying to carry alone. When the task list grows, anxiety rises, and boundaries slip, exhaustion often becomes our fuel of choice. But executing from exhaustion rarely produces excellence—and Jesus invites us to carry our work differently.

Comparison opens the door. Imitation walks through it. And before you know it, you’re trying to lead like someone God never called you to be. This is the danger every leader faces — losing yourself while trying to imitate someone else’s calling. David refused Saul’s armor for a reason. God’s anointing isn’t a call to imitate leadership; it’s an invitation to authentic leadership.

Chris Berman used to say, “Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.” Leadership works the same way. Great leaders don’t withstand pressure because they’re strong—they withstand it because they’re surrounded by the right people: encouragers, wisdom-givers, and truth-tellers.