Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro
Week 9: Chapter 9 — Navigating the Long Road Back
Read Chapter 9 of Leading on Empty. Key Scripture: Psalm 30; Isaiah 43:18-19
Previewing Week 9 of Leading on Empty
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 11-week guide when you’re ready.
Recovery from burnout is not a sprint — it is a long, often humbling road that requires patience with yourself and trust in God's timing. This chapter is a companion for the journey back.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Cordeiro is honest that recovery from burnout — especially when it has reached the point of clinical depression — takes much longer than most people expect. Were you surprised by the timeline he described? How does our culture's demand for quick fixes work against genuine recovery?
2.The author writes about the shame and confusion of feeling depressed when, from the outside, everything looks fine — a thriving church, a supportive family, an apparently blessed life. Have you experienced that dissonance? How does Cordeiro help make sense of it?
3.Cordeiro describes the importance of medical care — including medication — as part of his own recovery, and he is unapologetic about it. How does treating depression as a physiological reality (not just a spiritual failure) change how we approach it? Does that perspective feel liberating or unsettling to you?