Leadership in ministry is a rollercoaster, isn’t it? Some days you’re riding high, seeing lives changed by the gospel and your church thriving. Other days, the weight of responsibility, conflict, and unmet expectations can threaten to pull you under. The key to staying in the fight is gospel joy.
Gospel joy isn’t about riding an emotional high. It’s about having a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing Christ and leading out of the overflow of that relationship. And the truth is, when we lead with gospel joy, everything changes—not just for us, but for the people we lead. So how do we get there? How do we lead with joy when the pressures of ministry are constant?
1. Root your leadership in the gospel
Everything in leadership starts with the gospel. That might seem obvious, but it’s easy to lose sight of when you’re juggling demands from every direction. Before anything else, remember that you’re first a child of God, saved by grace through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). That truth should shape every decision, every conversation, and every step you take in ministry.
When your leadership is rooted in the gospel, you lead from a place of security and humility. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. You don’t have to scramble for approval. Instead, you lead with the confidence that your worth is already settled in Christ. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). That frees you to focus on glorifying God and serving others without the fear of failure or the pressure to perform.
Staying rooted in the joy of the gospel helps you protect your heart. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23). Applying this passage to leadership, Craig Hamilton says, “When things change at the spring, the effects will be felt downstream. Sometimes it will not be perceptible for quite some time, but eventually the stream will change and people will notice. Even if you keep doing exactly the same things as you always did, your ministry will be different because ministry isn’t just a mechanical process. It involves the heart. If your heart changes, your ministry changes also.”
2. Nurture a culture of praise
There’s something powerful about praise. When we praise God, we’re shifting our focus from our problems to His greatness. As leaders, we need that shift. It’s easy to get bogged down in the challenges of ministry, but when we cultivate a culture of praise, we’re reminded of the abundance we have in Christ.
Scripture tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). Praise isn’t just for Sunday mornings; it needs to be a regular rhythm in our leadership. Make time to pause and reflect on God’s goodness, even in the hard seasons. Praise Him for His faithfulness, His provision, and the privilege of serving His people. When we lead with a spirit of praise, our joy becomes contagious. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10), and we create an atmosphere where others can experience that same joy, even when life is tough.
I’ve heard it said that our brains can’t be worried and have gratitude at the same time. Worry often robs us of our joy because, when we worry, we’re taking on burdens that belong to the Lord. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6 not to worry about our lives but to trust in our heavenly Father’s provision: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life …. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:25,33). By choosing to praise rather than worry, we release those burdens back to God and allow His joy and peace to fill us.
3. Embrace joyful obedience
Obedience in leadership isn’t always easy. Sometimes God calls us to make difficult decisions or walk through uncomfortable situations. But there’s a difference between grudging obedience and joyful obedience. Joyful obedience is rooted in trust—it’s the belief that God’s plans are better than ours and that following His lead is always worth it.
The psalmist declares, “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:8). Joyful obedience is what sustains us when the road is long and the challenges are great. It’s not about ticking off a box or going through the motions. It’s about delighting in God’s will, knowing that His ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9). When we lead with joyful obedience, we show our people that real joy comes from surrendering to God’s purposes, even when it’s hard.
4. Lean into the hard seasons
Ministry can be hard, and often it’s in those difficult seasons that God is doing His deepest work in us. We are often tempted to run from hardship, but Scripture encourages us to lean into it. James reminds us to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3). This steadfastness is part of God’s sanctifying work in us.
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, shares how his ministry challenges caused him to rely not on himself but on “God who raises the dead.” The difficult seasons of ministry aren’t meaningless—they are often the very tools God uses to shape us, sanctify us, and make us more like Christ. So, don’t run from the hard times. Instead, ask God what sanctifying work He is doing in you and lean into it. When we view our trials through the lens of gospel joy, we recognize that even the toughest seasons have purpose. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).
5. Seek community and accountability
Ministry leadership can be lonely if you try to do it on your own. But you don’t have to. God has designed us for community, and that includes leaders. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another” (Heb. 10:24-25). Surround yourself with people who will encourage you, pray for you, and hold you accountable.
Accountability isn’t just about having someone to keep you in line—it’s about having people who will speak life into your ministry. Proverbs reminds us that “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). These relationships keep us grounded and remind us that we’re not carrying the burden alone. When we lead within a supportive community, we’re better equipped to maintain our joy and to lead others with grace and wisdom.
6. Find rest in God’s sovereignty
One of the biggest killers of joy in leadership is the belief that everything depends on us. We carry the weight of our church’s growth, success, and health on our shoulders—and it’s exhausting. But the truth is, none of it depends on us. God is in control, and that’s where our joy comes from. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Prov. 16:9).
When we rest in God’s sovereignty, we can lead with joy and freedom. We can laugh, even when things aren’t going according to plan, because we know the outcome is in His hands. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you” (Ps. 55:22). Joyful leadership isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about trusting that God has everything figured out. And when we lead from that place of trust, we lead with passion and purpose.
Leading from the overflow
As leaders, our pursuit of gospel joy isn’t just for us—it’s for the people we lead. When we lead with joy, we create an environment where others can experience the fullness of life in Christ. “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). We show them what it means to find joy in the gospel, no matter the trials we face.
So, let’s commit to leading from the overflow of a life rooted in Christ. Let’s anchor ourselves in the gospel, cultivate praise, embrace joyful obedience, lean into the hard seasons, and rest in God’s sovereignty. In doing so, we’ll not only experience the joy of the Lord in our own lives, but we’ll also guide others into that same joy—for the glory of God and the good of His church.
Published October 14, 2024