Most leaders I know care…and care a lot. They care about the mission. They care about the people they serve. They care about their team. In fact, sometimes that “caring” becomes a burden.

My friend Marianne Awaraji from Lebanon pointed this out in an article she recently posted on LinkedIn. Marianne, who is with our ministry partner SAT-7, observes,

“No one tells you how exhausting leadership can be when you’re a relational person. You don’t just manage tasks, you absorb emotions, read the room, carry tension, and try to hold everyone together. Over time, that weight becomes heavy.”

Have you experienced that? A staff member may be going through a rough time with family, and you care. Some team members get crosswise with each other, and you care. Psychologists call this emotional labor. As Marianne points out, it is “the work behind the work, calming conflict, encouraging others, listening deeply…while managing our own lives.”

That can be exhausting. Yet there is a remedy, a hope.

That’s what Moses was seeking when he told the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!”

God’s hope is always available. The Lord told His people: “For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” (Jeremiah 31:25 NLT)

Marianne lists practical steps a caring leader can take to help you manage this emotional labor.

  1. Boundaries are essential – Not coldness, but clarity.
  2. Don’t carry emotions that aren’t yours. Only God can heal people’s inner worlds.
  3. Anchor your identity somewhere unshakable. Lead from God’s strength. The Psalmist wrote, “The Lord is my strength and shield, I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.” (Psalm 28:7 NLT)

Marianne Awaraji concludes her thoughts with these wise words:

“If leading people drains us, it doesn’t mean we’re weak. It means we’re human and our heart is engaged. But healthy leadership isn’t about carrying everything. It’s about knowing when to set things down, speak the truth with love, and let God carry what we were never meant to hold!

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Who cares? You do…and the Lord cares, too.

God’s best,