January often brings both hope and pressure for pastors and church leaders. The start of a new year can feel like an unspoken performance review, filled with expectations around growth, attendance, giving, and vision. But pressure is not the same thing as purpose — and it’s a terrible substitute for clarity.
In this episode of Leading Your Church, Rich Cochran invites pastors to enter the new year with discernment, alignment, and spiritual steadiness — not anxiety-driven urgency. Instead of reacting to pressure, we talk about how to lead thoughtfully, prayerfully, and intentionally in the season your church is truly in.
If you’re stepping into this year feeling tired, uncertain, hopeful, or quietly discouraged, this conversation is designed to remind you: God is not behind schedule. Clarity comes from trust, alignment, and obedience — not control.
Key Themes We Discuss
The Quiet Pressure of January
Many pastors feel unseen weight as the new year begins. Staff expectations, board expectations, and internal expectations often rise — but pressure does not produce wisdom. Clarity does.
What Scripture Really Says About the Future
Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us that God calls us to trust and walk with Him, not predict outcomes. Clarity is not certainty. Clarity is alignment.
Why Health Is the Best Goal for the Year Ahead
Healthy leaders build healthy churches. Health is not the absence of problems — it’s the presence of alignment between vision, systems, pace, and culture.
Three Anchoring Questions for 2026
- What season are we actually in?
- What must be true for our church to be healthy this year?
- What must we not neglect, no matter what happens?
These questions create pastoral and strategic clarity.
A Word for Weary Pastors
Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that God’s mercies are new — not pressure. You are not being asked to outrun last year. You are being invited to walk faithfully into this one.
Lead This Year — Don’t Just Survive It
The church does not need louder leadership. It needs steadier shepherds. Faithfulness > hurry.
Key Quotes
“Pressure is not the same thing as purpose.”
“Healthy churches don’t rush into a new year. They discern their way into it.”
“Clarity is not about certainty. Clarity is about alignment.”
“Health is not the absence of problems — it’s the presence of alignment.”
“God is not behind schedule.”
Proverbs 3:5–6
Lamentations 3:22–23
Resources
You can find leadership tools, reflections, and resources to strengthen your church at:
richcochran.com