This morning, I had a very interesting conversation with a dear friend and great, great leader. Near the end of the conversation, he asked a very probing question. He asked, “Brian, do you ever have FOBFO – Fear of Being Found Out.”
I said, “Absolutely! I fear that one day people will find out I’m not that smart; people will learn I’m not that talented, that I’m not that great of a husband or father, that I’m not that Godly. Absolutely, I have FOBFO.”
He said, “Me too.”
As leaders, people expect us to have all the answers, to have a compelling white-hot vision, to have a plan to execute it, to build teams, to solve problems, to be bullet-proof. This is simply an unrealistic expectation.
There is a concept called The Gift Of The Gap which I strongly believe in. In everyone’s life, God will naturally build in a gap of where you currently are and where He wants you to be. And you will do everything possible within your own strength to fill that gap.
But you will eventually come to an end of your abilities. No matter how much talent you have, how much resources you have, how many connections you have, and how much experience you have, you will discover it is not near enough to get you where God wants you to be.
God builds it in this way. He builds in a gap between your human abilities and your divine assignment.
The reason God does this is way is because this gap can only be filled by the divine God Himself. This gap drives you to your knees as a leader as you reach a point of begging God, “Lord, I’ve done everything I know how to do. I can’t do this. I need your help. If You don’t come through, this thing could fall apart.”
This position of dependence and desperation is what God wants in your life. God loves it when you come to Him. On the other hand, leaders who have it all together do not need God. Therefore, God builds in the gap.
The key is not to shrink from the gap but to press into it. Actually, you don’t press into the gap. You press into God who created the gap. Rely on Him. Develop trust in Him. Use the gap to grow your faith.
So here is the irony – No leader is that smart. No leader is that talented. No man is that great of a husband or father. No Christian is that Godly. I know I’m not. Again, God has built within us a gap that forces us to come to Him to fill it.
So why do I have FOBFO when everyone, everyone has a gap? Great question. I don’t have an answer but I’m learning.
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