Light in the Waiting – Reflections for Leaders in Advent and the New Year
As we step into December, I’m struck by how leadership feels different at this time of year. The pace is still relentless, the demands haven’t eased, and yet something in the atmosphere begins to shift. The lights go up, the carols start, but for many leaders there’s a real mix of gratitude, fatigue and quiet determination to finish well.
These early days of Advent have always spoken to me. They remind us that waiting is not wasted time. It’s often the space where God strengthens us, steadies us and prepares us. Over these next weeks, I want to offer a few short reflections for those of you carrying significant responsibility in our schools, trusts and dioceses. My hope is that these thoughts give you a moment to breathe, to reflect, and perhaps to hear something of God’s voice in the midst of a very full season.
This first reflection begins where so many of us find ourselves right now: weary, hopeful and still leading.
The Waiting: Strength for the Weary Leader
Early December brings its own unique pressure. The celebrations are beginning, but schools and trusts are still in full motion. Leaders are holding the weight of the term, supporting staff through fatigue, managing challenges that always seem to surface in the final weeks, and trying to stay grounded when the pace feels anything but peaceful. Advent begins here, not with celebration but with longing and honest waiting. This first reflection in our Light in the Waiting series explores what it means to lead faithfully when strength feels low and the finish line is still ahead.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30–31
God speaks to people who are not failing, just tired. Leadership in December feels like that. Waiting on the Lord is not passive. It is a deliberate choice to rest your weight on God’s strength rather than your own.
Leadership Lesson
Waiting is not weakness. It is wisdom. Leaders often feel pressure to push harder, stay visible, and hold everything together. Yet Scripture reminds us that renewal does not come from our own effort. It begins with surrender and trust.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I relying on my own strength without noticing it?
- How might I create moments to wait on God in the final stretch of term?
- Who around me may need encouragement in this season of fatigue?
A Prayer
Lord, renew my strength as I enter these December weeks.
Steady my heart, clear my mind, and help me walk at Your pace.
Amen.
Emmaus Leadership Insight
As the term nears its close, many schools, trusts and dioceses begin looking ahead to the leadership needs of the new year. These weeks often reveal where teams need strengthening or where change may be coming. If your organisation is approaching a leadership decision, Emmaus Leadership offers confidential, faith-led support to help you move with clarity and confidence.
www.emmausleadership.me