BECOMING A HEALTHY LEADER: The Heart And Hurts Of A True Spiritual Leader

The heart is the spiritual control center of every genuine servant of God in ministry. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” That means, in ministry, the state of your heart determines the state of your work and walk with God. Every minister who desires to do enduring kingdom work and make it to heaven must continually examine, align, and realign their heart with the will and purposes of God.

Just like a responsible driver must frequently align the tires of his car for a smooth and safe journey, every sincere minister must consistently align his heart with the Word and Spirit of God. The tendency of the heart to drift is very strong if not constantly checked and guided by Scripture.

A. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION – Proverbs 4:23, 23:7

Just as the physical heart pumps blood and gives life to the body, our spiritual heart is the seat of our emotions, decisions, passions, and actions. Everything that flows from our lives and ministries—our attitudes, motives, words, and actions—are rooted in the condition of our heart.

B. WHY IS HEART ALIGNMENT NECESSARY?

The heart is the root of all behavior and attitude. (Phil. 4:7; Prov. 4:23; Mark 7:21)
The heart is the source of what we preach and teach. (Matt. 12:34–35)
The heart can become a channel of blessing or defilement. (Mark 7:14–23)
God constantly tests (Deut. 8:2), searches (Jer. 17:10), and weighs our hearts. (Prov. 21:2)
God shows Himself mighty on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him. (2 Chron. 16:9)
It’s possible to serve God but not with a perfect heart. (2 Kings 10:31)
A corrupt heart will lead to corrupt motives in ministry.

Who we are, where we are, and where we are heading in life and ministry all depend on the condition of our heart. We cannot rise higher than the purity, sincerity, and alignment of our heart with God. If our heart isn’t in the church, the church will not grow. Church expansion is hindered when the leader’s heart is not aligned with God. God examines not just what we do, but why we do it—the inner motives of our heart.

C. DIFFERENT HEART CONDITIONS IN MINISTRY

As one who has had the privilege of relating with God’s servants across various churches, I’ve observed several heart conditions that affect ministers today:

Envious and Striving Heart – Driven by jealousy and competition. (James 3:14–16)
Wounded Heart – A heart that carries pain and causes pain. (Psalm 109:22)
Deceived Heart – A heart seduced by materialism or fame. (Deut. 11:16; Luke 21:34)
Bitter Heart – Filled with unresolved anger and hatred. (Prov. 14:10)
Backsliding Heart – Drawn by the love of money or worldly gain. (Prov. 14:14)
Rebellious Heart – Rejects God’s Word and godly counsel. (Jer. 5:23)
Hypocritical Heart – Appears spiritual outwardly but hides ungodliness. (Job 36:13)
Desolate Heart – Spiritually dry and empty inside. (Psalm 143:4)
Hardened Heart – Delights in wrongdoing without remorse. (Exod. 4:21)
Proud and Arrogant Heart – Lifting oneself instead of Christ. (Isa. 9:9; 2 Chron. 32:25)

These heart conditions block the flow of God’s grace, power, and presence in the life of many ministers. A polluted heart can hinder divine manifestation and render a man ineffective in his calling.

D. HURTING MINISTERS AND THE PAINS THEY CARRY – (Psalm 55:12–14)

Many ministers today carry deep wounds within them—spiritual scars that have not healed. These wounds often come through:

Church splits and leadership crises
Internal church politics and betrayals
Sexual harassment or abuse
Treachery from close friends
Disappointments from senior leaders
Betrayal by trusted associates
Character assassination and slander
Infidelity or abandonment by a spouse
Destructive or discouraging words
Ungrateful church members
Unmet expectations in ministry
Putting too much trust in people

These experiences often leave deep emotional wounds that may linger for years unless properly dealt with through godly healing.

E. SIGNS THAT A MINISTER IS HURTING

Most ministers may not admit they are hurting, but certain symptoms give it away:

Low self-worth or insecurity
An inability to trust others again
Lingering guilt and emotional pain
Mood swings, irritability, and oversensitivity
Sarcasm and cutting comments
Depression and unusual behaviors
Bitterness and resentment
Lack of joy and inner peace

These inner wounds, if left untreated, will manifest outwardly in our behavior, reactions, relationships, and even in how we minister.

F. THE NEED FOR INNER HEALING

If your heart is broken inside, you will struggle outside
Hurting ministers end up hurting their flock
Being a pastor doesn’t exempt you from emotional wounds
Unhealed wounds can hinder the move of the Holy Spirit
You cannot genuinely help others if you are bleeding within
Unhealed leaders pass on their pain to their family, congregation, and team
Admitting you’re hurting is not a weakness—it’s human
If your heart is wounded, even good people and opportunities may pass you by
Emotional wounds can open doors for demonic oppression
Many conflicts in churches stem from unresolved hurts
Hurt people pray dangerous, destructive prayers out of pain
A heart full of hurt eventually becomes resentful and vengeful

Unhealed wounds often lead to self-pity, uncontrollable tears, deep emotional trauma, inner anger, and in extreme cases, even violence or suicide. That is why inner healing is not optional for God’s ministers—it is essential.

G. GODLY HEART CONDITIONS FOR MINISTERS

We need God to operate on our hearts spiritually (Ezekiel 36:25–27). Our hearts need to be washed, renewed, and circumcised by the blood of Jesus and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29). When this happens, we can develop:

An Obedient Heart – Acts 16:14
A Fixed Heart – Psalm 57:7
A Steadfast Heart – 1 Cor. 7:37
A Purposeful Heart – Daniel 1:8
A Loving Heart – 1 Cor. 13:1–8
A Forgiving Heart – Matt. 18:35
A Holy and Pure Heart – Psalm 24:3–4
A Tender and Soft Heart – Job 23:16; 2 Chron. 34:27

H. STEPS TO INNER HEALING

Receive God’s forgiveness—so you can remember without pain
Learn and practice genuine forgiveness (Matt. 18:15–17)
Allow the Holy Spirit to heal you in His own unique way
Reject bitterness and resentment—they rob you of joy
Understand that being wounded doesn’t mean you failed spiritually
Freely express your pain before God—He understands
Focus on helping others as you trust God for your own healing
Set your eyes on Jesus and not on people who disappointed you