Validation: Where do we find it?

Validation is crucial. Where we get it matters most!

Where We Find Our Validation as Leaders?

Every leader longs to know they’re on the right track. That longing often takes the form of seeking validation—confirmation that we’re making a difference, doing well, or even living up to expectations.Validation isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s crucial for growth. A well-timed word of encouragement can keep a leader moving forward through exhaustion or doubt. The problem comes when we confuse where and from whom we seek validation.

If God has designed a course for you—and He has—your leadership thrives when your validation aligns with His Kingdom purposes. But if you start looking in the wrong places, you risk drifting off course.

Let’s look at three common sources of validation every leader encounters.

1. Culture: The Loudest Voice

Our world validates leaders based on visibility, achievement, and comparison.

• Did your project go viral?

• Did you get invited to speak on the biggest stage?

• Did your name show up on a list of “Top 10 Leaders to Watch”?

  
  

Culture says, “You matter if you’re impressive.” It measures worth in likes, followers, promotions, and awards.The Apostle John warns against being driven by this kind of affirmation:

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16)

If you rely solely on culture for validation, your leadership becomes reactive—always chasing trends instead of following God’s calling.

2. Family: The Deepest Roots

Many leaders are shaped by an unspoken (or spoken) desire to make their parents proud. This can be incredibly positive when our parents nurture our calling, cheer us on, and point us toward God’s purposes.

But it can also become a heavy weight if we feel we’re constantly trying to earn their approval—or if we’re working to prove them wrong. Either way, our decisions can start orbiting around what they think, rather than what God says.

Paul reminds us of the deeper motivation:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23)

When family validation aligns with God’s validation, it can be a powerful force. But when it doesn’t, we must gently, prayerfully let God’s voice become louder.

3. God: The Steadiest Foundation

Only God’s validation is perfectly pure. He sees the whole picture—your motives, your struggles, your faithfulness in both the spotlight and the shadows.

God’s validation isn’t based on your performance, but on your identity in Christ and your obedience to His call.

Fabian’s Story

Fabian had always thought validation meant having the kind of job culture applauds—a high salary, a prestigious title, and visible success. But instead, he worked for a small non-profit that served teens caught between the pull of the drug culture and a Christian after-school program supported by donors.

While he believed in the mission, doubts crept in. Was this really benefiting the Kingdom? Were kids’ lives truly being changed? Or should he go find what he called a “real job”?

One quiet Tuesday morning, as Fabian prepared the room for the afternoon’s teen session, he prayed halfheartedly for the day ahead. In that stillness, God’s presence filled the room—not with fanfare, but with a quiet weight. And in the still, small voice of the Spirit, Fabian heard words that echoed the Father’s declaration over Jesus at His baptism:

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

No donors were in the room. No teenagers had yet arrived. There was no applause, no headline. Yet Fabian knew: God’s validation was more secure than anything culture could offer. He was right where God wanted him.

The Leader’s Choice

Validation is vital—it can fuel growth, perseverance, and courage. But the source matters.

• Culture will validate you for what you produce.

• Family will often validate you for how you reflect them.

• God validates you for who you are in Him and how you align with His Kingdom.

When you know where your truest validation comes from, you can lead with freedom. You can celebrate the affirmation culture and family bring without becoming enslaved to it. Most importantly, you can keep your feet on the path God has designed for you—because His “Well done” is the one that lasts.