Are you waiting to feel qualified to lead?

James Bruyn April 27, 2023

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Have you every asked yourself, "Who am I Lord, that you are asking me to lead this?" If you have, you are in the company of many godly leaders throughout history.

When God appeared to Moses in the flames of fire from within a bush on the side of mountain, God told Moses to go and bring his people out of Egypt. Moses replied by asking, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). God's answer to Moses was five short words: "I will be with you."

And if that isn't sufficient of an answer, God, who always keeps his promises, promised Moses that Moses and the Israelites would one day worship God together on that mountain (Exodus 3:12).

Sure enough, Moses had the privilege of seeing God perform many miracles as God helped him lead the Israelites to stand together on that mountain to worship God.

It wasn't Moses' skills as a shepherd, or his training as a leader in the courts of Egypt that qualified him as a leader in God's eyes. It was God's presence that qualified him as a leader.

King David, towards the end of his life, asked God the same question: "Who am I, sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18).

And the Lord's answer was "I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth" (2 Samuel 7:8-9).

It wasn't David's skills as a shepherd, or as a warrior that qualified David as a leader in God's eyes. It was God's presence with David that qualified him as a leader.

Gideon came from the weakest clan in Manasseh, and was the least in his family, yet the Lord saw that he was qualified to lead the Israelites and deliver them from hands of the Midianites. How was this possible? Because the Lord promised to be with Gideon (Judges 6:11-16).

How was it possible for a virgin, living in town of Nazareth, to conceive and give birth to son that she is to name Jesus? Only through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and by being overshadowed by the power of the Most High (Luke 1:35).

What's interesting is that God doesn't answer any of these people when they asked him why he was asking them to lead. Instead God gives them a much more satisfying answer—the promise that he will be with them.

When you find yourself asking why, God's answer is very simple: "You are qualified to lead because I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

If you are consumed by doubts and fears, I invite you to turn your eyes upon Jesus, and look full in his wonderful face, and thank him for walking with you. Then place your hand in his nail pierced hand and walk with him.

And if perchance in pride you are in the middle of leading an initiative on your own strength, would you consider pausing before you make one more decision, or take one more step, and invite the Holy Spirit to empower you? Would you take a moment and thank God for walking with you as you have led?

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James Bruyn is a bi-vocational visionary leader, writer and speaker who enjoys helping individuals integrate their faith in God with their daily life. He leads a ministry to Christians in the marketplace in Calgary, provides leadership coaching, and consults for the rail industry. He writes a weekly devotional and also has a devotional book, 31 Days with God at Work (Marketplace 2018). Learn More »

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