Lead To Serve Podcast, Season 7, Episode 2
In this week’s episode of the Lead to Serve podcast, Pastor Bob Claycamp and I discussed something that all of us face, especially in leadership: spiritual attack. If you’re waking up in the morning with even the slightest desire to honor God, then you’ve probably noticed the resistance that follows. That’s not your imagination, and you’re not making it up. No, it’s spiritual warfare. It’s actually intense spiritual warfare that comes to anyone seeking to press into the things of God. As we talked about in this podcast, the attacks are not always dramatic or noticeable, but they are real. Sometimes it comes in the form of discouragement, feeling inadequate, or simply being so tired that everything feels overwhelming.
Bob reminded us of Ephesians 6 and the “evil day”. He described it as those seasons when the enemy seems to come at us from all sides. If you’ve ever felt that perfect storm hit, you know how disorienting it can be. We walked through a few of the most common areas where leaders feel attacked: discouragement, inadequacy, tiredness, and the painful sense of being alone. Sometimes it’s not even what others say. It’s actually what we say to ourselves that wears us down.
We also discussed the dangers of overworking, the pressure of perfectionism, and the subtle damage of trying to do it all alone. Rest isn’t optional; it’s protective. When we don’t take time to sharpen the knife, to sit with the Lord, unplug, and actually rest, we make ourselves so much more vulnerable. That’s when the enemy presses in hard. Ministry leaders often fall into the trap of measuring others by their own exhaustion and forgetting that presence, not just provision, is what our families and teams truly need.
Toward the end of this episode, we got personal about expectations and perspective. Many of our battles start there. When we’re constantly looking for results or recognition, we lose sight of the grace that covers every step. God is with us, and His love doesn’t rise and fall with our performance. That’s easy to forget when the voice of discouragement gets loud. But it’s worth repeating: you’re not alone in this.
We want to hear from you. Be sure to share this podcast and send us your feedback or suggestions for new topics to cover. We’re not offering formulas, but we’re committed to having genuine conversations about ministry, leadership, and walking with Jesus. Reach out anytime. We’d love to hear what you’re facing and how we can grow together.
Key Words:
Spiritual warfare, ministry leadership, pastoral fatigue, Ephesians 6, spiritual attacks, discouragement, rest, inadequacy, overwork, grace, God’s presence, emotional burnout, leadership struggles, Lead to Serve, Ed Taylor, Bob Claycamp, Calvary Church, Aurora, Colorado, gracefm, ministry challenges, vulnerability in leadership, Christian leadership podcast
