Leaders, Are You Emotionally and Spiritually Healthy?: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3

5 days ago
4 min read

By Pastor Jacqueline Goodwin

As women leaders, we carry much—our families, our ministries, and the many souls God entrusts to our care. Yet amid all our giving, many of us neglect the one area that most determines our effectiveness: our own emotional and spiritual health.

Just as Christ desires His church to be whole, He desires His leaders to be healed. When we are not emotionally or spiritually well, the effects ripple through our ministries and congregations. Our pain can leak into our preaching, our unresolved wounds can shape how we lead, and we may begin to see a body of believers that reflects our inner dysfunction. But when leaders commit to emotional healing and spiritual maturity, we cultivate a healthy, thriving church—one that reflects the heart of Christ.

The Journey Toward Emotional and Spiritual Health

In The Emotionally Healthy Church, author Peter Scazzero outlines four principles that guide leaders toward wholeness:

Look beneath the surface
Break the power of the past
Live in brokenness and vulnerability
Embrace grieving and loss

These principles lead us on a spiritual journey that deepens our intimacy with God and transforms leadership from the inside out.

Looking Beneath the Surface

Spiritual maturity begins when we dare to look deeper. Many leaders know how to teach, preach, and minister—but few have been taught how to process pain. We can quote scripture yet ignore emotions of betrayal, disappointment, abuse, or rejection buried beneath ministry duties.

Scazzero reminds us, “Honesty requires fully looking at the whole truth.” Healing demands that we unmask hidden emotions that hinder maturity. When we confront the roots of bitterness, fear, and shame, we make room for God’s healing power to flow freely.

Breaking the Power of the Past

Every leader carries a story. Our families, environments, and experiences shape how we view ourselves and relate to others. Scazzero states, “Unless we grasp the power of the past on who we are in the present, we will inevitably replicate those patterns in relationships inside and outside the church.”

For many, ministry becomes a place to hide from pain. We clothe ourselves in busyness or performance, masking fear and loneliness. But when we face our past with honesty and humility, transformation begins.

Breaking the power of the past makes us vulnerable before God. In that transparency, He restores what was lost and empowers us to lead from authenticity rather than appearance.

Living in Brokenness and Vulnerability

Brokenness is not weakness—it’s where the glory of God shines most brightly. Scazzero writes, “Our light as leaders shines most brightly from the backdrop of our own brokenness and vulnerability. This is our greatest gift to the people we serve.”

Too often, leaders feel pressure to be perfect. But denying our brokenness denies others permission to heal. Our vulnerability becomes ministry—it invites others to believe that God can redeem even the most shattered parts of their story.

When we allow God to use our imperfections as testimony, He turns pain into power. Authenticity speaks louder than titles or sermons. Through transparency, we reflect the compassion of Christ to those we lead.

Embracing Grieving and Loss

Every leader experiences loss—of people, positions, opportunities, or even identity. Yet many have never learned to grieve well. We press forward, quote scripture, and say we are “fine,” but unhealed grief lingers beneath the surface.

Scazzero reveals, “Unattended losses prevent us from walking freely and honestly with God and others.” Suppressed grief stifles growth. Healing comes when we acknowledge pain, weep before God, and allow His Spirit to comfort and renew us.

Grieving well allows us to move forward whole—not bitter. It teaches us to rely on the Lord’s strength rather than our own and deepens compassion for others.

Healing Leaders Build Healing Churches

As leaders live out these principles, transformation flows from the pulpit to the pews. When we are emotionally and spiritually healthy, we create safe spaces for others to heal. The church becomes not just a place of worship but a place of wholeness.

Healthy leaders cultivate healthy ministries.

When we look beneath the surface, break the power of the past, live authentically, and embrace grief, we lead with compassion, humility, and integrity. We no longer lead from wounds—we lead from wisdom.

When leaders are free from their past, they empower their congregations to do the same. They model what it looks like to walk in truth and grace, break generational cycles, and embrace vulnerability as strength. A healed leader births a healed church.

A Final Word

Sisters in leadership, God is not calling you to perfection—He is calling you to wholeness. Healing is not a one-time event but a continual journey with Him. When you commit to emotional and spiritual growth, your ministry flourishes in ways you never imagined.

The world is desperate for authentic, healed, and Spirit-filled women who lead with compassion. As you walk through your own healing process, remember: your brokenness is not your barrier—it’s your bridge to help others find freedom in Christ.

May you allow God to heal the hidden places, renew your heart, and lead you into a deeper place of wholeness—so that through you, His church may be made whole.