Sometimes our greatest threat is not from what others do to us but what we do to ourselves. When I first began serving as a solo pastor, I was eager to quiet comments about my age and fitness by leading in whatever way I could. If people expected me to serve for forty hours a week, I’d serve fifty. If they wanted me to stop by the ladies’ lunch, I’d arrive early and be the last to leave. If someone presented a question at Bible study for which I had no answer, I’d stay up late scouring for one. It didn’t take long for a case of burnout to reveal that much of what I thought was proof of my dedication and leadership was actually a case of pride and fear—fear of letting people down, of not being who I thought others expected me to be, of not being enough. In short, I was afraid to acknowledge the limitation of being human.

Moses, on the other hand, is quick to admit his fears and limitations and reveals the making of a true leader. Faithful leadership isn’t about having all the answers, being the loudest in the room, or not making mistakes. Faithful leaders look to God for guidance and slow down long enough to recognize the ways that God provides direction, support, and strength. Letting go of the illusion of control can be hard; but the more we do it, the more we begin to see that God’s grace and mercy—not our efforts—have been sustaining and will sustain us.

May we, like Moses, come to see that surrender is not a sign of weakness but the path that leads to freedom.