Stone: Leaders Have Grit

Grit is more than pushing through; it’s perseverance rooted in purpose. When I faced divorce, depression, and business failures, I didn’t rise because of my own strength—I rose because of my “why.” I knew God had a plan, even in the storms. In Jeremiah 29, God tells his people they will go through a long season of hardship, but he promises restoration. That promise anchored me through the hardest seasons of my life.

I remember waking up during one of the lowest periods of my life, a time when I was barely able to eat or sleep. I had lost over thirty pounds, and my hair was falling out due to stress. I still had to show up for my three young kids and run a business. I didn’t feel like a leader—I felt like a mess. But I clung to routine, to prayer, and to God’s Word. I had to believe that God had plans for me, even when my world felt like it was crumbling.

I got out of bed not because I felt strong but because I remembered my purpose. I wasn’t doing it just for me—I was doing it for the family I was raising and the legacy I wanted to leave. Leadership isn’t about never struggling. It’s about trusting that your struggles aren’t wasted. Grit is getting up anyway.

Reflect: What is your “why”? What keeps you moving through uncomfortable or painful seasons?

Prayer: Lord, give me grit rooted in faith. Help me press forward, knowing you are with me in every season.