Imposter syndrome is one of those things I feel everyone has experienced at one point or another in their lives, myself included. It is something that has become a part of the human experience and a tool for the enemy, probaly since the beginning of time. Imposter Syndrome is a venomous snake silently slivering from left to right in search of its victim. The devil’s main agenda is to confuse and hinder you and ultimately, wear you down. Just when we are at our lowest or weakest, he preys on us like a savage beast. This is why 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
I think I can speak for all of us and say no matter how young or old we are, we have all felt like we did not belong or fit the criteria, and as though we were undeserving of something we earned.
For example, I never felt I was worthy of being in graduate school. Never in a million years did I think I would have been smart enough to be in a program with intelligent minds from all over the world. But for some reason, God blessed me and allowed me to get into the program of my dreams on a full-ride scholarship. My imposter syndrome almost prevented me from coming back to Christ. I never felt I was a good Christian or Christian enough. I returned to God after all the bad I had done. I did not come to Him because I’d seen a light as I have heard others say and even that left me pondering why I was not like everyone else in that regard either. I thought to myself, that’s not me, who is this? You’re an imposter.
Just like that, the devil and his tool were attacking me and making me feel less than, causing me to question my own character and self-value. I questioned whether God had made a mistake with me. I believe instances like these have happened to so many of us where we are led to feel like that in some sense, we are lacking and don’t measure up. But this is why God gave us a community – to ground is in the truth and what His word tells us. A few friends said things that helped my outlook on certain things at key moments along my journey and I hope they do the same for you as well.
My friends reminded me of something I’m sure you’ve heard: God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called, but also that there’s a reason why I am where I am. These simple sentences had a powerful effect on me and I hope they have with you. In our moments of strife and weakness when dealing with imposter syndrome, we tend to forget just how sovereign God truly is – He is the one who raised Christ from the dead, healed the sick, created Heaven and Earth, and so much more. I laugh writing this, but if God can do all those things, why couldn’t God just prevent us from encountering the challenges that come with occupying certain positions? It would be as easy for Him to remove our obstacles and those feelings that come as we rise in the ranks, but at the same time, there has to be a reason and a plan that God only knows – a plan that can only be revealed to us if have faith in Him and only trust Him.
This should motivate us to stop believing the lies that Imposter Syndrome tells us because anywhere God has us is where we belong.
When it attempts to rear its ugly head, we have to combat it with the Word of God because it shall not return unto us or God void (Isaiah 55:11). We have to combat what our hearts, minds, flesh, and insecurities try to convince us to be true.
This is why Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” I honestly feel this is why God reiterates throughout the Bible how we should not lean into our own understanding, but trust him with all our hearts. Proverbs 15:4 tells us as well that “a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” This is why God constantly reminds us that life and death lie in the depths of the tongue. We can literally talk ourselves to victory or our own death.
If I could leave you with anything it is these quotes that are perfect for dealing with this trap that trips a lot of us up:
- Self-doubt is going to destroy you before anything else will.
- Faith is trusting” God no matter how you feel or how it looks.
- God doesn’t call the qualified, God qualifies the called.
