The Myth of Invincible Leadership – Iron Man 2
We’ve all seen it happen. A leader rises through the ranks—charismatic, successful, seemingly unstoppable. But over time, their platform becomes a prison. Behind the polished image is a person unraveling under pressure. And rather than reaching out, they retreat. Hide. Pretend.
“Everything’s fine. No problems here.”
But leadership was never meant to be a solo act.
In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark is dying. The same arc reactor keeping him alive is also killing him. But instead of facing the reality, he masks it with booze and isolation. The genius billionaire playboy becomes a walking contradiction—publicly invincible, privately imploding.
Only when Tony finally opens up, admits his limitations, and lets others in—Pepper, Rhodey, Nick Fury—does real healing and growth begin.
Here’s the truth: avoiding your weaknesses doesn’t make them go away. Pretending you’re fine doesn’t make you healthy. Great leaders don’t hide their pain. They process it. They share it. They trust others to help them walk through it.
And I should know.
This past year, I faced a medical emergency that nearly killed me.
What started as a routine check-up ended with doctors telling me I likely wouldn’t survive another 48 hours without immediate surgery. My body was poisoning itself from the inside out. I went from expecting ibuprofen… to being rushed into surgery… to weeks of painful, emotional recovery.
It was terrifying.
It was humbling.
It was clarifying.
As a pastor, I had to take a leave of absence. Others had to preach. Volunteers had to step up. I had no choice but to trust the team—to lean on people in ways I hadn’t before. And you know what I discovered?
They didn’t just rise to the occasion. They thrived.
Lone-ranger leadership is a fast track to burnout. But when you build a life where others are empowered—where you share leadership—you create something that’s stronger, wiser, and more resilient.
Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, CEO, or team lead—you were never meant to carry the weight alone.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12—Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Great leaders don’t just share tasks. They share life. They admit when they’re hurting. They invite others in. They trust people enough to let go—and watch how God moves through the team around them.
So here’s a better way forward:
Let go of the illusion of indestructibility. Let others help carry the load. Lead honestly. Live vulnerably. Love deeply.
Because great leadership doesn’t begin with power—it begins with trusting people.