The Inner Life of a Lasting Leader
A Leadership Devotional Talk
2 Chronicles 26:3–5, 15–16
Introduction
Hey friends, I know your day has probably been packed — full of responsibilities, conversations, and decisions. But for just the next few moments, I want to invite you to pause, breathe, and open your heart to hear what the Lord might want to say tonight.
Here’s the reality: leadership has a way of pulling us in every direction. We’re so focused on what’s happening around us — the meetings, the deadlines, the ministry needs — that we sometimes miss what’s happening within us.
And yet, every leader I’ve ever met has the same desire: we want to lead well. We want our lives and ministries to matter. We want to see fruit, impact, and success.
But Scripture reminds us that true, lasting leadership isn’t built on talent alone or measured only by results. It’s built on something deeper — it’s built on character.
That’s the lesson we see in the story of King Uzziah. His story is told in 2 Chronicles 26:3–5 (NIV). If you have your Bible, look at it with me.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
So, he was only sixteen when he became king. He reigned for 52 years.
In the beginning, he got it right — he sought the Lord, he listened to wise counsel, and God gave him great success. But then comes the heartbreaking lines in verses 15-16. It says,
2 Chronicles 26:15–16 (NIV)
15 In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. 16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
Listen again to verse 16:
“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.”
Think about that for a moment. Uzziah didn’t fall on the battlefield. He wasn’t defeated by an enemy army. His collapse didn’t come from the outside — it came from the inside. His downfall was pride. He stopped paying attention to his inner life. He stopped leading himself.
And that’s not just his story — it’s our challenge too. John Maxwell once said, “The hardest person to lead is ourselves.”How true is that?
So tonight, I want us to pause and reflect on Uzziah’s story. Because if we’re going to be leaders who last, we can’t just focus on what’s happening around us — we’ve got to pay attention to what’s happening within us.
And that brings us to the first challenge…
1. SEEK THE LORD — BEFORE YOU SEEK SUCCESS
Uzziah’s story begins with this key phrase: “As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.” (v. 5)
Success isn’t wrong. In fact, it’s good to want your ministry to grow and to reach more people. But success can become dangerous when it increases at a rate greater than your soul. When your calendar grows but your character doesn’t, that’s a problem.
Intentional dependence on God isn’t optional — it’s essential. Because in the end: True success doesn’t come from your hustle; it comes from Him!
You can have staff wins, ministry wins, budget wins — and still lose the one thing that matters most: your daily walk with the Lord.
So before we chase growth, before we measure outcomes, let’s be leaders who seek Him first. Because our public influence will always be anchored in our private devotion.
2. GUARD YOUR HEART — WHEN THINGS GO WELL
Scripture says in verse 16, ‘But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.’
Notice — it wasn’t struggle that took him down, it was success. His heart wasn’t guarded when things were going well.
As he grew in power, his pride increased. Pride led him to cross a boundary that God had established (for his protection).
He wasn’t content with the role God had given him as king — he wanted to take on the role of a priest. So he entered the temple and tried to burn incense on the altar, something only the priests — descendants of Aaron — were permitted to do (2 Chronicles 26:16–18).
That boundary wasn’t there to hold him back — it was there to protect him. God’s commands aren’t arbitrary; they are protective. But pride always blurs boundaries. It convinces us we don’t need limits, accountability, or God’s order.
For Uzziah, crossing that boundary led to judgment and ultimately to the loss of his influence. For us as leaders, the same principle holds true: when pride whispers, “You don’t need anyone else’s input… you’re above the rules… you can do it your way,” it’s pulling us past God-given boundaries that were meant to keep us safe.
Here’s a Leadership Lesson for you:
Success will always test your heart far more than adversity ever will!
When a leader stumbles, it’s usually in the light.
While adversity may stretch you — prosperity will expose you. I’s not usually the storms that undo a leader — it’s the sunshine. Again: Success will test your heart far more than adversity ever will!
So let me ask you: How’s your heart? Not your ministry. Not your numbers. Your heart.
Are you staying humble? Staying accountable? Are you staying dependent upon Jesus?
Because pride rarely shouts its arrival. It whispers. “You deserve this. You’ve earned this. You don’t need anyone else’s input.”
That’s why leaders must guard their hearts — especially when things are going well.
3. STRENGTHEN YOUR SOUL — WITH HOLY HABITS
Uzziah’s downfall wasn’t one bad choice. It was slow neglect of his soul over time.
Principle: The soul weakens without consistent care, but holy habits make it strong.
Leaders, your daily habits are shaping you — for strength or for weakness. The question is: which direction are they taking you?
Scripture reminds us in 1 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV): “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
That’s the call — training your soul with the habits of prayer, Scripture, worship, sabbath, rest, and accountability. These aren’t “extras” for when you have time; they are essentials for every leader who wants to endure.
Think of them as guardrails — they don’t restrict you, they protect you. They keep your soul steady so your leadership doesn’t crash. And more than that, they give you the strength not just to start well, but to finish well.
Closing Challenge
Uzziah’s story is sobering, but it doesn’t have to be our story. If we want to be leaders who last, then we must:
- Seek the Lord first. We must never allow ministry to replace intimacy with the Lord.
- Guard our hearts. Pride, sin, and burnout are all subtle matters, but they’re also deadly.
- Strengthen our souls with intentional holy habits. Remember — consistency, not charisma, is what leads to longevity and fruitfulness in ministry and leadership.
So, hear me today — your Church doesn’t just need capable (or gifted) leaders — it needs healthy (and holy) leaders. It needs leaders whose inner lives are strong enough to carry the weight of their calling!
Reflection Questions
As we close, I want you to slow down your thoughts and reflect on these questions:
- When am I seeking the Lord beyond the demands and responsibilities for my ministry?
- In what area(s) might I be allowing pride or fatigue to creep in to my life?
- What one habit could I begin, or return to, that would strengthen my soul this month?
Closing Prayer
“Lord, here we are at the end of the day. We want to be leaders who last. Guard our hearts from pride, from burnout, and from self-reliance. Teach us to seek You first, to walk humbly with You, and to strengthen our souls with holy habits — so that we can faithfully lead others for years to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”