Stop being an Imposter.

Welcome back my dear Readers, we meet again today with a new article.

Today, I have a new story to tell you, it's the imaginary story of Charlie. Charlie is 21 years old, fresh out of university, he gets a job in the best bank in his city.

From the moment of his recruitment, three months were enough for him to be promoted to managing director of this bank.

I know, you're thinking what I'm telling you is almost impossible, but imagine it anyway and you'll see where I'm going with this.

Let's continue our story. Charlie learns he's been promoted and reacts with fear. He tells himself he's incapable of handling the position, and in his mind, these questions keep recurring: Why me? Wasn't there someone more competent than me? At my age and with my level of experience, am I capable of managing this level of responsibility? I was comfortable in my old job; is this new position really where I'm meant to be?

In short, so many questions which are only proof that our friend Charlie does not think he deserves this position, better yet, he does not feel he belongs there. 

We have all faced a situation at some point where we felt out of place, a situation where we felt underqualified.

If, like me, this has already happened to you, then you have suffered from "imposter syndrome" .

The Canadian Medical Association defines this syndrome as a psychological tendency towards fear and self-doubt that causes the affected person to doubt their own achievements and overwhelms them with a persistent and internalized fear of being portrayed as a fraud, despite their demonstrated abilities.

However, my goal here is not to say that you have a syndrome, far from it, I come to expose this syndrome in the light of the Word of God and give you what I think is the remedy for it, or at least one of the remedies.

In the Bible, several people were afflicted by this syndrome, and since I like you (yes, you who are reading this 😊), I've selected three for you. I know that the good reader will look for other examples in the Bible. 😁

Example 1: Moses, who is afraid and feels incapable because of his stutter. ( Exodus 4:10-17 )

Exodus 4:10: “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, Lord, forgive me! I do not know how to speak. Even when I was a child, I did not speak well, and it has not changed since you have been speaking to me. My mouth cannot say what I want.’”

Example 2: Gideon, who thinks God made a mistake in choosing him. ( Judges 6:11-24 )

Judges 6:15: “Gideon replied, ‘Lord, forgive me! How can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.’” 

Example 3: Jeremiah, who thinks he is too young for the work to which God is calling him ( Jeremiah 1:4-10 )

Jeremiah 1:6: “I replied, ‘Alas, Lord God, I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’” 

Now that you know this syndrome attacks even great men of God, I'm going to give you a remedy. In all these examples, whether it's Charlie Hebdo or those in the Bible, the people involved are simply forgetting one crucial factor: God's grace. God is sovereign; he does whatever he pleases ( Psalm 115:3 ), and therefore, he shows grace to whomever he chooses ( Romans 9:18 ) .

God's grace delivers to us things that are not rightfully ours, but which God gives us simply to show us that we have entered into His favor.

Therefore, we are not chosen because of our abilities but solely by grace. This feeling of being incompetent or simply not seeing ourselves in our place may seem normal, however, it is not. Although we may sometimes find ourselves in a position that seems far beyond our capabilities and abilities, instead of becoming defensive and fearing being seen as a fraud, we must be aware of God's grace, knowing that it is neither by our strength nor by our power, but by the Spirit of God. ( Zechariah 4:6 )

Therefore, you shouldn't place your trust in your own abilities but in the Spirit of God. So, instead of moping and being afraid, you should thank God for the opportunity He has given you. In short, the remedy for imposter syndrome is thanksgiving, continually giving thanks to God because this is God's will for us. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ) And if, right now as you read this, you are experiencing a situation in which you see yourself as an imposter, I invite you to pray this prayer: “Father, I thank You for what I am experiencing right now (name your situation, for example, “I thank You for this director position”). Everything I have is by Your grace, and I ask Your forgiveness for having trampled on that grace by thinking I obtained these things through merit.” I pray that you grant me the grace to be grateful at all times and to always give thanks, no matter the situation. Imposter syndrome is no longer my lot, in the name of Jesus. Amen!

See you soon.

God Bless🙏🏾

#Dave Jr