When you feel like you aren’t qualified to lead

When you feel like you aren’t qualified to lead March 29, 2017

Do you feel like you are just not cut out to carry the load that you have been burdened with? Feel like you’re too old, not smart enough, too young, not experienced enough… Name the excuse and we can all relate.

I am currently in several roles — roles I didnt seek out. They are leading people and projects and important things and money. And more often than not, I want to pull back and just follow.

Responsibility has a way of sneaking up on us. Suddenly the project at work is yours. Or the small group looks to you to lead. All eyes are you and everyone is expecting you to lead.

Who am I to shoulder this responsibility?

I remember bringing home little baby James home from the hospital. The entire survival of this baby was entirely up to a 20-year old mother and a 22 year-old father.

We were responsible not just to change his diapers, but to feed him, to keep him away from danger, and to keep him alive.

What was God thinking? I was in no shape to have that responsibility. Somehow, James survived because I had the tools after to be a father.

Responsibility for a nation

Mt Nebo, where Moses staff is forever immortalized. Photo by D. Rupert
Mt Nebo, where Moses staff is forever immortalized. Photo by D. Rupert

It’s one thing to be responsible for a family, it’s entirely another thing to be responsible for an entire nation, indeed an entire lineage.

That’s what Moses felt. The burden of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. The Egyptian sun beating down on his shoulders and the voice of God echoing in his mind.

Remember the burning bush? Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law when God spoke out of the burning bush.  God goes on and describe the misery of the people, how they were oppressed and how they needed to be rescued. I can see Moses nodding his head. Yes, yes, YES!.

Then God dropped the bomb:

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Moses answered just like I would. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’

 

Well, God gave him a sign of empowerment. And it was something Moses was already carrying in his hand. A staff – a big walking stick.

Normally it was just a piece of wood, but then God would turn into a snake, or a weapon, or a divider of the waters. It looked like a stick, but it represented power. Just when he needed it the most.

So when you ask, “Who am I?  to do this big thing? Who am I to say yes, to dive into responsibility for others, to carry truth and administer righteousness? Who am I to write this, to speak this, to do this?”

God says, “Grab that stick and let’s go for a walk.”

Here’s the math. Whoever You Already Are + God’s Amazing Power = What You Need

 

 


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