When What You Lean On Matters Most
Jan 26, 2026by Cheryl Perkins
There is a moment from my childhood that still speaks to me.
One afternoon, I came home from school and saw my father on the roof, repairing it. A small ladder leaned against the house. Being a daddy’s girl, I decided that if my dad was on the roof, I wanted to be there too. So I climbed the ladder.
I made it to the top.
But once I stood there, fear rushed in. The ladder suddenly felt unstable. The ground felt far away. I froze. I didn’t trust the ladder enough to climb back down.
So my father came to me, lifted me in his arms, and carried me safely down.
I didn’t trust the ladder—but I trusted my father.
That moment mirrors leadership more than we realize.
As adults and leaders, we often climb ladders we thought we could handle: experience, control, performance, reputation, emotional strength. They seem sturdy—until pressure reveals their limits. Uncertainty has a way of exposing what we are truly leaning on.
Leadership is not defined by how high you climb. It is revealed by what you trust when the ground feels far away.
The Quiet Question Every Leader Must Ask
What am I leaning on that could give way under pressure?
Many leaders rely on:
Experience
Strategy
Control
Approval
Emotion
Personal strength
None of these are wrong. But none of them are designed to carry the full weight of your calling, identity, or future.
Faith invites a different posture—not the absence of wisdom or effort, but a deeper foundation beneath them.
For Christians, Scripture names this clearly:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
For those new to faith or simply exploring, this ancient wisdom offers a timeless leadership truth:
When the load becomes heavier than your capacity, what you trust must be stronger than you.
Leadership Development: Building a Stronger Lean
Here’s what “trust-based leadership” looks like in practice:
Recognize Fragile Supports
Identify what you default to under stress. Is it control? Overthinking? Self-reliance? These are ladders—useful, but not ultimate.
Shift from Self-Centered to Source-Centered
Great leaders know their limits. Trust moves leadership from “I must hold everything” to “I can release what exceeds me.”
Lead from Alignment, Not Anxiety
When you stop carrying what was never meant for you alone, clarity returns. Decisions become anchored instead of reactive.
Model Dependence as Strength
Trust is not weakness. It is disciplined humility—the courage to lead without pretending to be invincible.
Let Direction Replace Strain
Trust is not passive. Leaders who trust move with intention, but without the crushing weight of self-sufficiency.
Just like that ladder, what you lean on determines how safe the descent will be when fear rises.
Scripture Focus
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
“Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.”
“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.”
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
To those who are the called according to His purpose.”
These passages remind us that trust is not passive—it is a posture. As we release control and anchor our confidence in God’s faithfulness, peace replaces strain, direction replaces confusion, and purpose emerges even in uncertain seasons.
Reflection Questions
What do I instinctively lean on when pressure i
Where have I been carrying weight I was never meant to hold alone?
How would my leadership change if trust replaced strain?
What would it look like to release control and invite guidance instead?
Where might God be inviting me to step off a fragile ladder?
Closing Prayer
God, teach me to trust You beyond what I can manage or understand.
Where I have leaned on fragile supports, help me release them.
Anchor my leadership in truth, not fear.
Carry what I cannot.
Direct my steps with wisdom, peace, and purpose.
Let me lead from trust, not strain. Amen.
Tagged with:Faith & Spiritual Growth
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