Are you leading from the fruit God calls you to bear—or reacting from the flesh?
That’s the kind of question we explore in Kingdom Factor peer groups, a faith-based space where business leaders integrate faith, soul, and leadership in practical and real-world ways.
Leadership is full of crossroads. Every day, every decision, is an opportunity
to respond from the flesh, driven by urgency, fear, or control
or to respond from God’s Spirit, steady, life-giving, and aligned with His Kingdom.
Sometimes the difference is subtle. It shows up in whether we choose peace over worry, patience over impulsiveness, or kindness over control. Sometimes it’s stark. Every moment is an invitation to lead with integration
👉 Will your leadership flow from the Spirit or the flesh?
When Fruit Feels Absent
There are seasons when, no matter how hard we try, the fruit feels absent.
A week ago, during my personal Bible reflection (stay tuned—I’ll share more in Season 5 of Soul Power to the People Podcast), I felt the weight of my own heart: sadness, frustration, and the sting of unmet expectations—real, raw, unignorable.
The scripture cut deep:
“You will know them by their fruit.” — Matthew 7:16
And I asked myself, If fruit reveals who we are, what does this say about me?
Looking at some outcomes in my life, it felt like my fruit had gone sour. Thankfully, the next day was our Kingdom Factor Coaches Cohort.
Still heavy-hearted, I volunteered for the hot seat. I took off my coach’s hat and allowed the part of me that was hurting to be nurtured and counseled.
In that circle of Kingdom-hearted, Soul-Powered leaders, I found comfort, a safe space to process pain without judgment. And I was reminded gently and clearly:
➡️ The fruit Jesus points to isn’t measured by outcomes I can’t control
It’s measured by the Fruit of the Spirit flowing through integrated leadership
A fellow coach reminded me of John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
Later that evening, when I returned to the Bible, God whispered: Stay.
“Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.” — Genesis 26:3
Stay even when the ground looks barren
Stay even when the fruit isn’t yet visible
Stay even when clarity feels distant
Stay because staying is an active, integrated, soul-aligned faith
Staying in the Vine
Yesterday, during our Kingdom Factor peer group, we dove into the topic of fruits:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control
I assigned this topic weeks ago. What are the odds? But I get what God is up to.
God isn’t just calling us to know these fruits intellectually. He wants us to integrate them into our leadership and daily actions, so we stop cycling through the same internal conflicts that mute God’s voice.
He wants us to live rooted, coherent, and aligned in Christ, so that when the external outcomes look barren, we remain steadfast, not scrambling to figure it out alone.
➡️ Staying rooted in Christ is the fruit.
Staying Isn’t Passive
The word Stay is exactly where I am right now. It’s softening my knee-jerk fear responses, quieting the urge to run or fix everything, and releasing my need for control.
Staying isn’t passive, it’s conscious, integrated, Spirit-led leadership
It takes moment-by-moment awareness
You choose it—over and over—to remain present, rooted, and aligned in Him.
As 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Our minds are battlegrounds. Choosing to stay in the Vine keeps our thoughts aligned with God’s Spirit rather than fear, lies, or distractions. Every decision becomes an act of integration, choosing Christ over the flesh, faith over fear, peace over worry
In action, staying looks like:
- Not giving up, it’s sacred surrender
- Not numbing out, it’s leaning in
- Not controlling, it’s connecting
And that connection is where freedom begins. Freedom from what binds our heart and soul.
In other words, we get out of our own way. Or put differently: let go, let God.
Staying unclutters the heart. It transforms tension, frustration, and inner tug-of-war into an altar of transformation—where God’s life can flow through every decision, every relationship, and every leadership moment.
When Flesh and Spirit Collide
Ever notice how your heart can pull in two directions at once?
- Wanting rest, but pushing for success
- Seeking authenticity, but protecting loyalty
- Craving freedom, but clinging to security
That’s values conflict—the collision of flesh and Spirit. It feels messy, heavy, and uncomfortable. Most of us try to fix it or silence it.
But here’s the truth:
👉 Values conflict isn’t a problem to solve—it’s a signal to notice.
It’s a divine nudge to pause, lean in, and realign. That tension? It’s not failure or confusion.
The tension is the altar where transformation begins.
It’s where we unclutter our hearts and lead from an integrated soul-centered place
Why This Matters
In leadership, this tug-of-war shows up every day:
- Sending a hard email, but pausing because something inside says, “Wait.”
- Facing an overflowing calendar, but your spirit whispers, “Be still.”
- Making a team decision—pushing for performance, yet sensing God wants patience.
💭 Reflection: Where in your leadership—or your life—do you sense God asking you to stay?
Stay with the process.
Stay with the discomfort.
Stay connected to His Spirit rather than forcing a result.
Pause. Invite the Holy Spirit in. And simply ask:
“Lord, what fruit are You growing in me here?”
When we slow down and name what’s pulling at us, the war inside begins to quiet.
What once felt like chaos becomes a conversation with God.
The noise softens, His voice grows clear, and Spirit-led fruit begins to flow… through you.
With awareness, the tension softens.
With surrender, His peace returns.
Values conflict may feel uncomfortable—but it’s holy ground.
It’s where God invites us into deeper oneness, clarity, and Kingdom alignment.
You don’t have to navigate leadership alone. Kingdom Factor peer groups and Soul Powered Coaching provide a safe, judgment-free space to pause, reflect, and grow.
Take the next step: Join a Kingdom Factor peer group or schedule a Soul Powered Coaching session today—and start leading with God’s Spirit in every decision.
Stay
So today, I invite you to stay:
- Stay in the Vine.
- Stay with the tension.
- Stay even when the ground looks barren.
Lean in. Listen. Offer it all back to Him.
When you stay, your leadership becomes not just effective—but eternal.
Fruit that lasts.
Closing Prayer
Lord, teach us to stay.
When the fruit feels absent, remind us that You are near.
Root our leadership in Your Spirit, that our work may bear fruit that lasts.
Amen.
Tess Vergara ♡