We treat our bodies like rental cars.
We drive them hard. We fill them with cheap fuel. We skip the maintenance. We ignore the “Check Engine” light. And then we are shocked—shocked—when they break down on the side of the road.
In the startup world and the church world, there is a perverse “Badge of Honor” attached to exhaustion.
“I haven't slept in two days.”
“I haven't taken a vacation in three years.”
“I just push through the pain.”
We think this sounds like dedication.
Actually, it sounds like rebellion.
In the Superhuman Framework, Healthy isn't about having six-pack abs or running marathons.
It is about Stewardship.
God gave you one vehicle to transport your soul and your calling through this life. If you wreck the vehicle, the mission stops.
Your Body is Not Your Own
If you owned a house, you might feel free to let it rot. But if you were house-sitting for a King, you would keep it spotless.
Scripture is clear: You are the house-sitter.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
| Grind Culture | Kingdom Culture |
|---|---|
| “My body is a tool to be used up.” | “My body is a temple to be honored.” |
| “Rest is for the weak.” | “Rest is commanded by God.” |
| “I'll sleep when I'm dead.” | “Sleep is a gift from God.” (Psalm 127:2) |
| “I am indispensable.” | “I am not the Savior.” |
When you sleep, you are trusting God. When you rest, you are acknowledging you are not the Savior.
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
Psalm 127:2
The 3 Engines of Leadership Health
To be a Superhuman Leader, you must maintain three engines. If one fails, the plane goes down.
The Physical Engine
Sleep, Fuel, Move
You cannot pray away the effects of sleep deprivation. If you are irritable, foggy, or anxious, check your sleep before you check your theology.
The Audit:
Are you getting 7+ hours, or are you stealing from tomorrow to pay for today?
The Mental Engine
Clarity & Peace
Leadership is cognitive athletics. You are making hundreds of decisions a day. If you don't have downtime, your decision fatigue will lead to bad calls.
The Audit:
Do you have a “Sabbath” where your brain turns off?
The Emotional Engine
Processing
Leaders absorb trauma. You carry the grief of your team. If you don't process that grief (through therapy, journaling, or prayer), it will leak out as anger.
The Audit:
Who do you talk to when you are hurting?
How to Stop the Crash
You don't need a complete lifestyle overhaul tomorrow. You need micro-adjustments.
1. The Sabbath is Non-Negotiable
God didn't rest because He was tired. He rested to set a rhythm.
If the Creator of the Universe takes a day off, who are you to say you can't afford it?
2. Movement is Medicine
Stagnant water becomes toxic. Stagnant bodies become depressed.
You don't need to do CrossFit. Just walk. A 20-minute walk can reset your cortisol levels.
3. Respect the “Check Engine” Light
Anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and cynicism are not “weaknesses.” They are lights on the dashboard telling you something is wrong under the hood.
Stop putting tape over the light. Pull over and check the engine.
Check Yourself
What is your body trying to tell you right now that you are ignoring?
Continue Your Journey
Frequently Asked Questions
No—neglecting your health is poor stewardship. Your body is the vehicle for your mission. When you neglect it, you reduce your capacity to serve, lead, and make an impact. Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it is strategic. A healthy leader can serve longer and better than a burned-out one. Scripture calls your body a temple of the Holy Spirit—honoring it is an act of worship.
You do not find time; you make it by recognizing that health is not optional. Start by auditing where your time actually goes. Most leaders have more discretionary time than they think. Even 20 minutes of movement and 7 hours of sleep will transform your energy and effectiveness. The question is not whether you have time but what you are prioritizing. If the Creator of the Universe built in a day of rest, perhaps your schedule needs the same design.
Start where you are. You cannot undo the past, but you can make different choices today. Small, consistent changes compound over time. Do not try to overhaul everything at once. Pick one habit—sleep, movement, or nutrition—and focus there for 30 days before adding another. Progress beats perfection. Your body has remarkable capacity to heal when you start treating it like the temple it is.
Even in demanding seasons, you need non-negotiables. Identify the minimum viable health routine that keeps you functional: a certain amount of sleep, some movement, basic nutrition. Protect those even when everything else flexes. Sprint seasons are fine, but they cannot become your permanent pace or you will break. Remember: Sabbath was designed for demanding seasons, not just easy ones.
They are deeply connected. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. When you are exhausted, your spiritual sensitivity decreases. When you are healthy, you have more capacity for prayer, presence, and obedience. The disciplines of the body and the disciplines of the spirit reinforce each other. Sleep is an act of trust in God. Rest is an acknowledgment that you are not the Savior.
Model it yourself first. If you send emails at midnight and skip lunch, your words about health ring hollow. Then create structural support: reasonable deadlines, protected time off, explicit permission to prioritize well-being. Challenge the narrative that overwork equals commitment. The best work comes from rested, healthy people. Kingdom culture celebrates stewardship, not self-destruction.