How to Conquer Imposter Syndrome

“Imposter Syndrome” is that feeling of inadequacy we all feel when we’re overwhelmed by our calling. Because God always calls us to something bigger than ourselves. He calls us to something we can’t do without him.

So often, this is our first response to God’s calling on our lives. And, believe me, imposter syndrome, feeling inadequate for the task, continues to pop up over and over again. Because, in ourselves, we are inadequate for the task. God is the one who makes it work.

The Whispers of the Enemy

Who am I to do this?”

When the enemy talks to us, he disguises his voice as ours so we don’t recognize his lies as coming from external to ourselves. And he talks to us in the first person, so we think his lies are our own thoughts.

He won’t say, “Who are you to do this?” in a Darth Vader voice. He’ll say, “Who am I to do this?” in our own voice, so we don’t recognize him, and we think it’s our own thought. If we think it’s our own thought, we’re quicker to agree with it. And when we agree with his lies, that’s where he gets power over us.

That’s imposter syndrome. And it’s the whisper of the enemy.

“I can’t raise a child.”
“I can’t write a book.”
“I can’t do this job.”
“I can’t be a pastor.”
“I could never actually do that thing that makes my heart sing.”

If you feel like this, you’re not alone.

All Over the Bible

Everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, have dealt with this, from the beginning of time. There are examples all over the Bible. Here are just a few:

Moses: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
Gideon: “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:15)
Saul: They inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man [Saul] come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” (1 Samuel 10:22)
Jeremiah: “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” (Jeremiah 1:6)
Esther: “… any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, the king has but one law: that they be put to death …” (Esther 4:11)
Peter: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8)

So if you feel like you’re in over your head, and you can’t possibly do that thing that makes your heart sing, you’re in good company.

Partnership with God

We feel imposter syndrome when we realize God is calling us to something bigger than ourselves, that we can’t do on our own. Which is actually the point. He wants to do it in partnership with us.

But we have to do our part. If we give up, we tie God’s hands.

What if, when we get to heaven, we see all the resources God had lined up to help us, all ready to fall like dominoes at just the right time when we needed them. But it never happened because we never pushed over the first domino. I don’t want to live in eternal regret, do you?

When God, from the burning bush, calls Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, Moses’ first response is classic imposter syndrome. Who am I to do this? I can’t do this!

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” — Exodus 3:11

God’s response to Moses, and all the others mentioned in the bullets above, is the cure for imposter syndrome. God’s common answer is, “I will be with you.”

“I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” – Exodus 3:12

The cure for imposter syndrome is worship. Intimacy. Spending time with God. Being with the one who will be with you.

When, through intimacy with him as a lifestyle, we get to the place where we know that we know that God has called us, we can say with Moses, “If you’re not going with us, we’re not going” (Exodus 33:15, my paraphrase). But with his presence, we can do anything.

When you feel inadequate for the task, spend intimate one-on-one time with the One who’s calling you to the task.

The cure to imposter syndrome is spending time with the One who longs to spend time with us.

Your Turn

Does this resonate?

Have you felt imposter syndrome? What has it kept you from doing? Or have you conquered it? Either way, tell us in the comments. And please share this post if it would bless others.