We are obsessed with competence.

We’re told to fake it until we make it and to project a version of ourselves that is polished, confident, and ready for the room.

Then there is Moses…

When God called him from a burning bush, his first instinct wasn’t to say “Finally!”—it was to list every single reason why he was the wrong guy for the job.

The walk uphill to the mountain is hard enough when you want to be there. Imagine doing it when you’re actively trying to quit.

Moses is the original reluctant professional. He struggled with a speech impediment, a messy past, and a total lack of vision.

He is the proof that God isn’t looking for the most qualified person in the room; God is looking for the one who is available.

When we feel social friction or performance barriers in our work or our spiritual lives, we tend to do exactly what Moses did. We make excuses based on our perceived flaws:

• “Who am I?” (The Identity Crisis): Moses felt he lacked the status to talk to power.

• “What if they don’t believe me?” (The Fear of Judgment): He was terrified of being misunderstood.

• “I am slow of speech” (The Competence Gap): He focused on his physical limitations rather than the message.

God didn’t fix Moses’ speech impediment or give him a personality transplant. He just gave him a partner (Aaron) and told him to go anyway.

By 2026, we are burnt out by the demand to be perfect. Moses offers a different way to lead:

1. Dedication Beats Perfection: You don’t need a complex strategy; you just need to show up.

2. The Human Element: It’s okay to be terrified. It’s okay to doubt. The perseverance is what matters.

3. Relatable Leadership: People don’t follow perfect statues; they follow humans who have the balls to be honest about their weakness.

*Imagery co-created with AI

Updates from our Exeter studio on our craft, theology, and the art of slowing down.