Ethan stared at his reflection in the polished surface of the espresso machine. It was 5:45 AM at Driftwood Coffee. On paper, Ethan was the model of gospel momentum. He was a bivocational pastor, a small business owner, a husband, and a father. To the people walking through his doors, his life looked full of purpose and meaning.
But as the steam hissed, Ethan felt a hollow ache that no amount of caffeine could cure. He was successful, yet he was suffocating. His prayers had become transactional, mere routine check ins with God. His patience was thinning, and his presence at home was a ghost of what it used to be. He felt like a wind blown branch, thrashing to keep his fruit from falling off while his roots were bone dry. He finally faced the painful truth: he had been teaching others to grow, but he had stopped growing himself.
Momentum Starts with Alignment, Not Action
Many of us lead like Ethan. We buy into the “Hustle Idol,” the belief that if we just work harder and push faster, we will eventually reach a place of peace. We confuse productivity with presence and output with overflow.
But true momentum, the kind that lasts and transforms, does not begin with a 90 day plan. It begins with Life Transformation. In the C4 Coaching Model, we see the image of a tree planted by a river. A tree does not strive to grow; it flourishes because its roots drink deeply from the source.
The Identity Shift: From Employee to Child
The heart of transformation is not better habits; it is a renewed identity. You were made for more than survival; you were made for Spirit led momentum.
When your identity is rooted in the gospel, the weight of your leadership shifts:
– Leadership becomes Love: You no longer lead to prove your value; you lead because you are already valued by God.
– Rhythms become Rest: Your schedule begins to reflect your surrender, creating space to listen, abide, and breathe.
– Responsibility becomes a Response to Grace: You stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and start stewarding what God has given as an act of worship.
Stop Pretending, Start Abiding
Ethan’s turning point did not come from a new strategy. It came from a quiet coaching conversation that asked: “Who’s helping you carry what you’re carrying?”
Transformation is contagious. When Ethan stopped trying to build something impressive and started living something real, his presence became an invitation to others rather than a performance for them. His kids noticed he laughed more. His wife, Rachel, noted he felt lighter and freer.
Real change is not about turning over a new leaf; it is about growing from a new root.
Take the Next Step
Are you leading from emptiness or overflow? Are you tired of the hustle and hungry for clarity?
You were not meant to carry the weight of your calling alone. Momentum is a gift to be received, not a product to be manufactured.
Your Challenge:
– Reflect: Where do you feel most depleted spiritually or emotionally right now?
– Abide: Spend time this week in stillness, not asking God for “things,” but simply resting in the truth that you are His beloved child.
– Reach Out: If you are ready to trade exhaustion for purpose, it is time for a different kind of conversation. Pick up your copy of Momentum: Gospel Clarity for Life, Healing, and Leadership by Chad Spriggs to explore the full C4 Coaching Model and the six essentials that generate lasting movement.
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