Motivation Mondays in the Marketplace at The Chapel

By Dr. Kathy L. Amos

As business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, we often enter a new year full of vision, faith, and expectation. We’ve prayed, planned, and stepped forward with courage—answering the call to build what we believe God has entrusted to us.

But shortly after saying yes, many leaders encounter something unexpected: pressure.

Things feel tight.
Progress feels slower than anticipated.
Old strategies no longer work.
Comfort zones begin to crack.

And the natural conclusion is often, “I must be under spiritual warfare.”

But here is a perspective worth considering:

What if it’s not warfare at all?
What if it’s growth?

The Revelation of the Seed

In nature, nothing grows without first being planted. A seed does not begin its journey in the light—it begins underground, hidden beneath soil, surrounded by pressure. Yet that pressure is not harmful. It is essential.

A seed’s outer shell must break, not because something attacks it, but because life inside the seed begins to expand. The shell that once protected it now limits it. Breaking becomes necessary for growth to continue.

This same principle applies to leadership.

When leaders step into new assignments—launching businesses, expanding organizations, answering community calls—there is often a period where things feel heavier rather than easier. That moment is not failure. It is formation.

Burial Is Not Rejection

Being planted can feel like being buried. Seasons of obscurity, unseen effort, or delayed recognition can challenge a leader’s confidence. But burial is not rejection—it is placement.

Seeds are planted intentionally. If you find yourself in a season where visibility is low and pressure is high, it may be because the environment is exactly right for what is being developed within you.

Breaking Is Not the Enemy

In leadership, breaking often shows up as outdated thinking no longer working, familiar approaches losing effectiveness, or internal stretching that feels uncomfortable. These moments can feel unsettling, but they are often signs that growth is underway.

You cannot produce next-level impact while remaining in last-season mindsets.

Breaking is not loss.
It is release.

Roots Before Results

Before a plant ever emerges above ground, roots grow deep below the surface. Strong roots determine longevity, stability, and fruitfulness.

In the same way, leaders must develop depth before expansion—character before influence, foundation before growth. What feels like slowness is often God strengthening what will eventually sustain visible success.

A Word for Leaders

Not every difficult season is opposition.
Not every delay is denial.
Not every challenge is an attack.

Sometimes pressure is simply proof that something meaningful is growing.

If you are feeling stretched, pressed, or uncomfortable, pause before rebuking the season. You may be standing in the very process designed to produce what you’ve been praying for.

Motivation Monday Takeaway

This week, instead of saying, “I’m under attack,” consider saying:

“I am planted.”
“Growth is happening beneath the surface.”
“This pressure is preparing me.”

Stay planted. Stay consistent. Stay faithful.

Because what comes forth from the soil will always look greater than what went in.

—

Motivation Mondays in the Marketplace at The Chapel is a weekly teaching designed to encourage business and community leaders to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose—where faith, leadership, and real-life application meet.