The Leader I Was — and Still Choose to Be: Integrity in the Foot and a Half
listen to job 29-31
Reflection…
In Job 29–31, we hear something familiar to every seasoned leader: the ache of what used to be, the confusion of the present, and the resolve to stay true anyway. These chapters are Job’s closing argument—not just to his friends, but to his own soul.
It’s here that we find a powerful picture of what it means to lead through the foot and a half: the gap between former honor and current hardship, between the confidence of the past and the uncertainty of the now.
Chapter 29: The Glory Days
“Oh, for the days when God watched over me…” (29:2)
Job remembers a time when everything was right. He had influence. Respect. Purpose. His words carried weight. The vulnerable found protection in his leadership. The people listened and praised him.
“I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.” (29:15)
This was leadership marked by compassion and credibility—not just status, but service. Job led from his heart as much as his head. He lived the foot and a half well… until it was ripped from under him.
Chapter 30: The Fall from Favor
“But now they mock me…” (30:1)
Job’s tone shifts. The man once admired is now ridiculed. The same streets that once honored him now echo with scorn. Leadership—especially the kind built on righteousness—isn’t always rewarded the way we expect.
This chapter reflects every leader’s nightmare: to live with integrity, only to be misunderstood, abandoned, or forgotten.
But Job doesn’t quit. He laments without compromising. He feels the weight of grief without losing the thread of truth. He shows us that mourning what was is part of mature leadership.
Chapter 31: The Integrity Check
Chapter 31 reads like a personal audit. Job opens his heart and lays out the kind of leader and man he has chosen to be:
“I made a covenant with my eyes…” (v. 1) — purity
“If I have denied justice…” (v. 13) — fairness
“If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune…” (v. 29) — humility
“If I have put my trust in gold…” (v. 24) — surrender
Over and over, Job declares: “If I have…” not to boast, but to say, I’ve walked this out with consistency. These aren’t just rules; they’re the habits of heart-aligned leadership. Job is not claiming perfection — he’s testifying to intentional integrity.
Leadership Lessons from Job 29–31
Don’t fear looking back: Reflection isn’t weakness. It’s how wise leaders recalibrate their present.
Grieve without losing grip: It’s okay to mourn what’s been lost—just don’t lose your identity in the process.
Audit your life and leadership: Job didn’t just defend himself—he evaluated himself. Great leaders don’t just react; they reflect.
Walk the foot and a half daily: Living with your head aligned to God’s truth and your heart anchored in His presence is a daily discipline.
Takeaway: Job 29–31 shows a leader looking honestly at his journey—his rise, his rejection, and his response. In that vulnerable space—the foot and a half between what was and what still could be—he chooses to lead with integrity, not bitterness. That’s the kind of leadership that endures.
