There is no getting around it: leadership comes with a lot to manage and a heavy load of responsibility. As a result, maintaining a steady stream of peace can seem nearly impossible. The Word of God reveals, however, that we can endure the pressure – and sustain our peace – if we are able to properly manage the load.

Are you properly managing your load?

Have you taken on too much too soon?

Are you delegating responsibilities soon enough?

Like many of us, Moses was an overworked, overwhelmed, and disheartened leader. His cry out to God reflected so many of our own wails. Feeling the pressure of too many responsibilities, Moses said to the Lord:

"Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby?... I can't carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!... Do me a favor and spare me this misery!" (Numbers 11:11-15, NLT)

God revealed to Moses – just as He wants to reveal to us – that He is a God that sends provision, backs up His Word, and has all power. The Lord responded to Moses, "Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!" (Numbers 11:23, NLT)

Find comfort in knowing that the Lord does not give us more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can, indeed, manage our load. Demonstrating that He is Jehovah Jireh – God our Provider – the Lord told Moses to choose seventy other qualified men whom He would anoint to lighten the burden of leading the people through the wilderness. It is important to notice, however, that God never reduced the magnitude of Moses' call; but instead, He increased Moses' capacity to answer his assignment.

God wants to increase our capacity, but we must do our part. When we feel overwhelmed, we have to ask and answer the tough questions: "Am I taking on too much too soon?" "Am I delegating responsibilities soon enough?" "Am I expecting God to send provision for burdens that He never assigned?" Facing these difficult questions is important because when we wear ourselves out, we also run the risk of wearing out the people whom we lead. In Exodus 18, Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, observed how Moses' inability to delegate responsibility was negatively affecting the people who followed him:

"This is not good!" Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. "You’re going to wear yourself out – and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself... Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves... They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures..." (Exodus 18:17-23, NLT)

We, too, can endure the pressures that we feel if we properly manage our load. Remember, God will send the help that we need. If He did it for Moses, He will certainly do it for us.

Our cry:
Lord, I thank You for being the Author and Finisher of my faith. What You start, You finish. Where You send, You provide. Please open my eyes so that I may know when to take on new responsibilities, and when to delegate tasks. Let Your timing be my timing. Let Your plans be my plans. I ask that You increase my capacity, so that I can endure the pressures that weigh me down. You, my Lord, are Jehovah Jireh – my never failing Provider.

For I am Your Handmaiden. I am Your servant.

Recommended reading:
Matthew 12:46-50
Exodus, chapter 18
Numbers, chapter 11

Marsha DuCille
Publisher/Editorial Director
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