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Why do so many of us feel guilty when we slow down?

In this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, Paul explores the deeper reasons rest can feel uncomfortable — especially for leaders, helpers, pastors, and high-capacity people who have quietly tied their identity to productivity.

From ultramarathon training to the pace of Jesus, this conversation looks at how our culture rewards exhaustion while Jesus continually invited people into rest.

But real rest is harder than it sounds.

Because the moment the noise stops, we often come face to face with what distraction has been covering up.

In this episode:

• Why recovery is part of growth
• How productivity can become identity
• Why silence feels uncomfortable for many of us
• The connection between attachment and rest
• The difference between striving for God and resting with God
• Why Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds
• How Sabbath teaches us trust

If you’ve ever struggled to slow down without feeling anxious, guilty, or unproductive, this episode is for you.

Key Scripture

• Matthew 11:28–30

Quotes from This Episode

• “Recovery is part of the training.”
• “We don’t know how to simply be with Him.”
• “When we stop producing, we often discover how much of our identity was attached to our productivity.”
• “Silence has a way of exposing what activity has been covering up.”
• “Some of us only feel valuable when we’re needed.”
• “We only know how to strive in the service of God.”
• “You are not the Messiah.”
• “The world keeps spinning even when you stop.”

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

For this episode of The Reluctant Leader Podcast, we’re talking about something most of us wrestle with: how to measure progress in a healthy way.

In a culture obsessed with instant results, it’s easy to believe we’re failing when growth feels slow. But whether it’s physical training, spiritual formation, emotional health, or leadership development, the deepest transformation usually happens quietly over time.

Using ultra marathon training as a backdrop, Paul explores why daily measurements can be discouraging, why “invisible growth” still matters, and how God often works beneath the surface long before fruit becomes visible.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by slow progress in your faith, leadership, healing, or personal growth, this episode is a reminder that consistency matters more than quick results — and that deep roots grow slowly.

In this episode:

• Why daily metrics can distort our perspective
• The danger of measuring our souls like social media
• What endurance training teaches us about spiritual growth
• Signs of real transformation that often go unnoticed
• How Jesus described Kingdom growth in Mark 4
• Why slow growth is still healthy growth
• The difference between becoming impressive and becoming whole

Key Quote:

Scripture Reference:

• Mark 4:26–29

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.

Got questions or comments? Text them to me!

We live on a planet sustained by five great oceans. But what sustains the human soul?

In this episode, Paul shares how a simple morning rhythm—shaped through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and grounded in everyday objects—has become a pathway to deeper attachment with Christ.

A candle.
A cup of coffee.
A faithful companion named Eden.
A chair.
And above all… Christ.

These five “Cs” have become daily reminders that God’s presence still meets us in ordinary places.

If you’ve been feeling spiritually dry, emotionally tired, or mentally cluttered, this episode is a reminder that renewal often doesn’t come through dramatic breakthroughs—it comes through simple, consistent return.

In This Episode:

• Why ordinary objects can become sacred reminders
• How God’s light pushes back inner darkness
• The warmth and filling presence of God
• Jesus as the Companion who stays close
• Learning to rest your full weight in God’s care
• Why Christ is the center of every sustaining rhythm
• How to build your own daily reminders of grace

Key Scripture References:

• John 1:5
• Psalm 23:5
• Proverbs 18:24
• Matthew 11:28–30
• Colossians 1:17

Memorable Line:

Sustainable faith is rarely built in dramatic moments. It’s built in daily returning.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who’s been running on empty.

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Thanks for listening to The Reluctant Leader Podcast with Paul Jenkins! Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and be sure to read the stuff I'm writing on my blog.

Rather watch the video? Head over to The Reluctant Leader Podcast on my YouTube channel.