One of the things I wrestle with in leadership is the sense that we are always facing a perceived impossibility. Our desire is to see a reality tomorrow that isn’t a reality today. There are days that this can feel tricky, tiresome (or both), and everything within me wishes that it was easy.

Today I was reading Moses addressing the Israelites towards the end of their journey to the promised land. He has just reminded them of the law and the covenant they had been given in the wilderness and then he says this to them in chapter 30.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14

I’ve underlined what has challenged me most in this passage. Moses makes it clear that the task ahead is neither too difficult or beyond them. Its not something that they need to go on a huge trek to discover, in fact it they look in their own heart and mouth they would find the solution to all they are trying to achieve.

It makes me wonder about the perceived challenges that are ahead of me as a leader. Are the things that I think are tricky, tiresome, and ultimately beyond me, not really? Perhaps they are not beyond my reach at all and if I looked in my mouth and heart I would realise that there are solutions I’ve been looking for elsewhere! I’m not saying that we shouldn’t come to God seeking answers and wisdom, but perhaps I also need to build a better practise of looking and remembering what He has already revealed to me.

It is not beyond us!!

Last thought – if it was beyond us, I don’t think He would call us to it, and it is crucial that we remember that we have the unlimited, omnipotent God who partners with us through it all. And we definitely know that it is not beyond Him.