Leadership, love, and the invisible load
For the past two months, life has felt… weighty. There’s a kind of weight we carry that isn’t measured in pounds or seen in the mirror—it’s emotional, mental, and often spiritual. It’s the kind of heaviness that wakes you up at 3 a.m., lingers through quiet moments, and hides behind busy schedules. For those in leadership—especially servant leaders grounded in faith—this weight often extends beyond personal trials. It includes the burdens we carry for others and the impact of our own decisions.
As a nurse leader and someone deeply invested in people’s wellbeing, I’ve learned that the heaviness I feel isn’t always about what’s happening to me. Sometimes it’s what I’ve done—or failed to do—that weighs most. The ripple effects of decisions, the expectations of those who look to me, and the unspoken pain I witness in others—all of it accumulates like invisible bricks in a backpack no one sees.
This burden isn’t unfamiliar to Scripture. In Galatians 6:2, Paul urges us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Leadership is inherently a burden-bearing role. We are called to stand in the gap, to intercede, to advocate, and often to feel deeply. But it’s easy to confuse this noble call with the belief that we must carry everything alone.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus speaks to this precise tension:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
He did not say life or leadership will be weightless—but He offers to share the yoke. There’s divine partnership available when we choose not to carry the invisible load alone.
Some days the heaviness comes from watching others struggle—team members facing burnout, friends losing loved ones, patients caught in systems beyond our control. Romans 12:15 reminds us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Empathy is holy work, but it has a cost. It adds to the weight.
So what do we do with this kind of heaviness?
We bring it to the One who understands leadership, grief, and love more than we ever will. We ask God for wisdom to know what is ours to carry and what we must release. And we learn to embrace both compassion and boundaries—grace for ourselves, grace for others.
Reflection:
If your soul feels heavy today, pause. Ask: Is this weight mine? Is it someone else’s? Have I offered it to God? Leadership may require us to hold much, but it never requires us to hold it alone.
Scripture References (NIV):
- Galatians 6:2
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Romans 12:15
Call to Action:
Take five minutes today to journal or pray: “Lord, what am I carrying that I need to surrender to You?” And then—release it. Even just a little. One prayer at a time.
ç'est la vie RN 
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