Monday can feel like a grind or an opportunity for growth—especially when we are connected to something or someone beyond ourselves. Leadership demands much, and our ability to endure is often tested. Capacity is a great indicator of resilience, and many of us have the ability to carry heavy loads for extended periods. But what happens when our capacity is no longer enough? When our health takes a turn, an unexpected crisis arises, or a loved one needs our full attention, we find ourselves stretched beyond our limits. These moments reveal how dependent we truly are on our own strength—or on something greater.
Intimacy with God is not just for the deeply religious or those who have everything figured out. It’s for anyone seeking sustained strength, clarity, and resilience. Burnout happens when we try to fuel everything from our own reservoir. But what if we were meant to draw from a greater source?
Solitude: The Greatest Weapon Against Burnout
Jesus modeled this for us:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” – Mark 1:35
Jesus—who carried the weight of the world—regularly withdrew to be alone with God. Solitude wasn’t an escape; it was a strategic retreat. If He needed time alone with the Father, how much more do we?
When Capacity Collides with Priorities
Rick is a manager at a local retail store. He works longer hours than most and has a deep sense of responsibility. But lately, his growing frustration at work has started affecting his home life. His exhaustion leads to resentment, and he finds himself snapping at his wife and kids. When his children ask for his attention, his short fuse erupts: “Don’t they understand how hard I’m working?”—but deep down, he knows that outburst was really meant for his job, not his family.
Priorities matter. Yes, capacity is king in the workplace, but it is also essential for home life. Leaders who thrive in both spheres recognize that intimacy with God provides the necessary boundary adaptation to sustain them. Without this, work consumes everything, leaving little energy for the people who matter most.
Recognizing his misalignment, Rick took a step back. He apologized to his wife and kids, acknowledging that his frustration was misplaced. More importantly, he realized that his over-functioning at work was bleeding into his home life. He began intentionally carving out time for solitude—time to be with God and to reset his priorities. Through this, he started leading from a place of wholeness rather than depletion, and both his work and home life began to change.
Three Ways to Develop Intimacy with God
- Start Your Day with Him
Before opening your inbox, before diving into responsibilities, take a few moments to be still. Read a short passage of Scripture, pray, or simply sit in silence. A small start can reshape your entire day. - Be Honest and Unfiltered in Prayer
Intimacy isn’t built on formality—it’s built on honesty. Whether you feel strong or weak, excited or drained, bring it all to God. The Psalms are full of raw, unfiltered prayers, showing us that God invites real conversation, not rehearsed performances. - Find Solitude Regularly
Schedule moments of solitude into your week. Even 10-15 minutes of quiet can realign your heart. Go for a walk, sit in a quiet room, or take a drive without distractions. Let God have space to speak into your life.
Beyond Our Own Capacity
Leaders often carry more than they think they can. But we are not meant to lead from sheer willpower alone. When we cultivate intimacy with God, we operate beyond our own capacity—because we are drawing from His.
This practice of solitude fuels our relationship first with God—even if He feels abstract or distant. That’s the test for leaders: to trust that God has our best intentions at heart and that He also wants us to flourish at all levels of our lives. Integrating our inner alignment at work, at play, at home, and in our personal life provides a fullness from God that we can never achieve on our own. Why? Because we invite resources from beyond ourselves. The ego is a powerful force within, but it will stand in our way if we let it. True leadership requires us to step beyond ego and into a life sourced in God’s presence.
This week, before the demands pile up, take time to reconnect. Don’t wait until you’re burned out. Start with intimacy, and let everything else flow from there.
How will you include this step of intimacy with God into your Monday Mindset this week?
