As women, we lead others everyday whether we have a job title or not. As mothers we impact our children, as friends we influence daily choices, and as disciples we represent Christ, not just at church but in every place we go- baseball games, playdates and dinner tables. Leadership is all about stewarding our influence for the glory of God, but not in the way the world celebrates, mainly through appearance, but rather in our unseen dependence on God. We can only bear fruit for Christ to the extent we are abiding in Him, because apart from Him, we can produce nothing (John 15:5). The fruit is what we love to see, but every shiny grape begins with the unseen death of a seed and unbroken connection to the vine.

The world puts all of its value in what can be seen- our gifting, our performance, our list of accomplishments, and a self-reliance that appears effortless. What’s even better is if we have a reel to document the win. Often as women, we end our days doing a mental tally of our wins and losses as if they can add to or take away one bit of value from our worth. On the flip side, Paul lists his entire resume and says he considers all of it garbage compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus! (Phil 3) I love the pivot Paul makes here from literally crushing life on his own to calling Christ “our life.” The secret to winning in this life is actually identifying with Christ in his death. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:3-4.

It’s easy to get sucked into the world’s value system if we aren’t intentional to note that you can’t live for your own glory and call it God’s too. The principles of leadership in the Kingdom of God are the polar opposite of this world’s.

Character > gifting

Daily Faithfulness > the performance

Reputation > resume of accomplishments

Dependence on Christ > reliance on self

God chose Moses despite his inability to speak and Jeremiah despite his age. We need to stop comparing our gifts to other women’s and then relying on ourselves, instead of abiding in Christ and allowing God to transform us from the inside out. I love how Jesus modeled for us servant leadership and ultimately laid down his life for us.

God used David despite his lack of a resume, and his reputation to this day is “a man after God’s own heart” despite his mega failures. David’s humility is a hallmark- he turned to God in repentance (Psalm 51) instead of pridefully clinging to his position as King as his failures snowballed.

The true impact of our leadership is not in what can be seen, but it’s in the unseen of who we are relying on and what we are sowing tiny seeds to. Read this verse below as a promise- “Do do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked, a person reaps what they sow.” Even when it seems others are cheating the system, God will not be mocked, so don’t fall for the lie of perception either. Let’s keep doing the unseen work of continually dying to self and abiding in Christ, and we are sure to reap a harvest in our marriages, families, churches and communities if we do not give up!

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:7-9

*pic from our fave hike in WA ♥️

Laura DiLeonardi

Laura DiLeonardi is the founder of Agape Moms, a national network of missional communities for mothers that launched in 2016. Since early 2022, she’s served as the Director of Community at The Journey Church in Lebanon, TN where she oversees Life Groups, the Women’s Ministry and where she planted her third Agape Moms chapter. Laura is a writer, speaker and mobilizer for women of all ages to live on mission for Jesus in their everyday lives. She is married to her Moody Bible Institute sweetheart, Matt since 2009 and they have three kids, Jack, Selah and Lucy, and two fur babies, Bear and Lady. In her free time she enjoys hiking with the family, running, and good conversation over a cup of coffee. Laura's passion is seeing lives continually transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Stewarding Our Influence