There are many times when I feel like I barely make it through my exercise class. My muscles are burning and I’m not sure if I will be able to walk straight once we are finished.

My instructor is so awesome because she is totally real when she finds the workout challenging, and she says when she’s having a hard time getting through it.

Here is what I love: no matter how tough it is, she is doing it with us, but also talking us through it.

One class, in the middle of squats, this leadership revelation slammed me in the face.

Great leaders are walking all the challenging pieces of life out, still finding it hard, still being pushed to their limits, yet they find a way to talk, encourage and lead through it.

This doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, it just means that you choose to be real that it’s tough, and encourage others to keep going on this journey with you.

If I am completely honest, as a pastor I sometimes feel like I have to have it all together, I have to know the answers, or that I don’t have to find life hard.

But the truth is I find life very challenging.

I find parenting to be emotionally draining, physically exhausting and spiritually demanding.

My marriage often is a daily forgiveness marathon.

Too frequently cake is chosen over runs, and sleep over time in the Word.

That’s just my reality. I’m a work in progress, and I always will be.

Wherever you are in your leadership journey, whether you lead your kids, your family, a crew at work, a small group, a business or a church, know that you just have to talk everyone through the challenge.

Be real. Be honest. Say this really sucked today, but tomorrow we are going to try again.

Remind your people we can overcome the obstacle and grow together.

Pull others alongside you to run this marathon of life.

Never giving up is great leadership.