That's Not Humility--- That's Imposter Syndrome

Today we are exposing one of the biggest lies holding people back from their God given purpose: imposter syndrome. You know that voice that says you're not qualified, not ready, not smart enough or that someone else can do it better? Yeah, we are putting that voice on notice today. Not today Satan!!! God didn't call you based on your perfection. He called you based on His purpose!

Transcript

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Welcome to the Born to Win podcast for the ones who've stumbled, the ones who've wrestled, and the ones who decided not to quit. I am HD, and this space is about real people, real stories, and a very real Jesus. Here we share testimonies of what happens when you stop running aimlessly and start running with purpose. This podcast exists because none of us were created to live accidentally. We were born to win on purpose with Jesus. So whether you're brand new to faith, coming back after a long hiatus, or walking closely with Jesus but hungry for more, you belong here. These stories aren't about having it all together. They aren't about what happens when surrender meets grace. Ordinary people say yes to an extraordinary God. So take a deep breath, lean in, and let these testimonies and the content remind you that your past doesn't disqualify you and your pain isn't wasted. Your race is far from over. So let's get started. What's up, people? What's up? How are you today? I'm good. I hope you're good. Um, today's a solo episode, and um, life has been lifeing for what seemed like quite a while, and I've really been delving into what I wanted to talk about today and kind of praying about it, and and and what the Lord laid on my heart was to talk about imposter syndrome. So this episode will be about that topic and how it's affected me personally, and hopefully, we can break free from imposter syndrome if it's something that affects you. Um, so this episode, I want to talk about breaking free and then walking in who God says that you are. So, welcome back to the podcast. I'm glad you're here. I've missed you. Today we're talking about something that impacts four more people than we realize, which again is imposter syndrome. So this is something that has affected me most of my life. I don't know that I can even tell you a time when it didn't. And um, I am still trying to overcome it today, to be honest. I I thought that being on stages and talking and speaking and sharing my story would make it easier, but I don't know that it really has. So, to be successful, gifted, educated, called by God, and still secretly wonder who am I to do this? How many of us have asked that question when we're trying to get into our purpose? You can sit in a boardroom, you can stand behind a microphone, you can lead a ministry, you can raise children, start a business, um, or even just stepping into a new season, you can feel like someone is eventually going to discover that you're just not qualified. Someone's gonna pull the rug out from under you. The truth is, imposter syndrome isn't just a confidence issue, it's often an identity issue. I truly believe that's the cause behind my struggle with imposter syndrome is that I've always feel like I've kind of had an identity issue. And although I've come really, really far, I do know who I am at this point, but I'm still learning. I'm still constantly uncovering things in my life about who I am. And today we're going to expose the lie, uncover the truth, and discover how God calls us beyond our feelings and into our purpose. Before we dive in, because I don't want to forget, I want to give a plug to an amazing friend of mine. Um, her name is Kendall, and Kendall has a podcast. It's on Spotify, uh, I think it's on Apple also. Um, and it is called The Faithful Shift. And I really, really highly encourage you to look it up and listen because she is so inspiring, and she kind of has put a light, she's lit a fire under my view behind because I really just kept thinking I just this podcast, I just have really struggled with the um the solo episodes, and just listening to her podcast has really encouraged me and wanted me to be better at what I'm doing here. So, Kendall, I know you'll be listening to this, my friend. I love you and I thank you. Um, Kendall and Blake are both on early episodes of this podcast. So take a listen to those as well. Amazing stories and amazing people. So, anyway, let's dive in. What is imposture syndrome? Imposture syndrome is the persistent belief that you're not as capable, qualified, or worthy as others think you are. It's the feeling that your accomplishment accomplishments are simply luck. It's believing everyone else belongs in the room except you. It's discounting your gifts while magnifying your weaknesses. It's all of the above. And probably so much more. The problem is that imposter syndrome causes us to question what God has already confirmed. When God gives us a plan, and then this imposter syndrome whispers, you're not ready, you're not smart enough, you're too old, you're too young. Someone else could do that better. But God never calls people because they are perfect. He calls people because he is. So you have to be careful also when you're surrounding yourself with people that you're not surrounding yourself with people who believe these things, that you're not ready, that you're not smart enough, that you're too old, that you're too young, that someone else could do it better. Because if they are believing that, they're feeding that into you. You have to be surrounded by people who support you, support your beliefs, and support helping you see your worth or your value. People who believe in you. Those are the people you should be surrounded with. Because if you're not, you'll hold yourself back because these people don't see you for anything more than what you believe. So, imposter syndrome. Let's let's take this to a biblical background because again, born to win is a faith-based podcast, so we have to include the Bible, right? So let's talk about Moses. When Jesus called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses immediately started listing the reasons why he wasn't qualified. Who am I that I should go? He said. And then he reminded God about his speech issues. Moses basically said, You have the wrong person. Yet God wasn't asking Moses to rely on Moses. God was asking Moses to rely on God. Many of us are waiting until we feel qualified, and God is waiting for us to trust him. Another example in the Bible would be Gideon. When the angel appeared to Gideon, he called him a mighty warrior. The funny thing is, Gideon was hiding when God found him. God spoke to Gideon's potential before Gideon could even see it himself. Gideon saw weakness, God saw a deliverer. Gideon saw limitations, God saw leadership. Sometimes God introduces you to the version of yourself that He created before you ever believe it. I truly believe that's the case for me, because I know that God sees me way, way more capable than I see myself most days. So let's talk about Jeremiah. When God called Jeremiah, his response was immediate. I'm only a child. And God's response, do not say I am only a child. In other words, stop defining yourself by the limitations when I've already defined you by your calling. Oh, how many of us do that? How many of us define ourselves by our limitations when God is calling us for so much more? Many people think imposter syndrome is humility. It isn't. True humility says, I can't do this without God. Imposter syndrome says I can't do this at all. One points to God, the other points to self. The enemy wants you to focus on your inadequacies, and God wants you to focus on his sufficiency. If Satan can't stop your calling, he'll try to convince you you're unqualified for it. Think about that. Let me repeat that. If Satan can't stop your calling, he's trying to convince you that you're unqualified for it. It's like if Satan can't get you to sin, he'll keep you distracted. Both of those keep you from reaching your ultimate goal. How many opportunities have been missed because fear sounded like wisdom? How many dreams have been delayed because insecurity disguised itself as humility? How many people are waiting for your obedience while you're waiting for confidence? Confidence doesn't come before obedience. Confidence often comes because of obedience. We have to be obedient to what God is calling us to do, and then we become confident. So how does God call us beyond imposter syndrome? God calls the unqualified. Throughout scripture, God repeatedly chooses ordinary people, fishermen, shepherds, former prosecutors, teenagers, widows, people society has overlooked. God specializes in using unlikely people. A lot of us believe we are unlikely people, right? But why does he do this? Because when God gets the glory, nobody can mistake who did the work. So ultimately, it doesn't matter whether we're unqualified, whether we're overlooked, whether we're just simply a fisherman or a shepherd or simply a mom or a dad, or it doesn't matter. Fill in the blank. Because when God gets the glory, nobody can mistake who did the work. Secondly, God gives grace for the assignment. Whatever God calls you to do, he provides grace for. You may not have what you need today, but you'll have what you need when this time comes for you to step into your assignment. Provision follows obedience. Also, your identity is not your performance. This is a huge one. Your worth is not determined by your success. Everyone has a different version of what success is, right? So how do we even know how to determine our worth if success looks different to everybody else? Your value is not determined, is not determined by your productivity. Some people just stay busy, but they're never really doing anything. They're busy versus product productive. Like you, it's it's two different things. You can be busy all day long, but you're not being productive. You are a child of God before you accomplished anything. Think about that. Before you were ever born. God already gave you your identity. You're a child of God from the very, very beginning. You've already received that. So when you understand that, failure loses its power because your identity remains secure. You are a child of God. Period. So there's a scripture that talks about God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. So this means that God doesn't wait for you to possess the perfect skills, resume, or background before giving you a purpose. Instead, he chooses ordinary people and equips them with everything they need to fulfill his plan. So what does that mean? It means when God gives you an assignment, you don't have to have it all together. You don't have to be ready. You don't have to have a plan. You just have to follow the steps that he lays out in front of you. So, how does that overcome imposter syndrome? I think it's a starting point for the mindset that you have to have before you start the process. So when imposter thoughts come through your brain, you have to replace feelings with truth. Ask yourself, what does God say about me? And then think about that. Like, what does God say about me? Don't say, What do my fears say about me, or what does Satan think about me? Because Lord knows we don't want to follow that. But what does God say about me? If you don't know, go to the Bible, it will tell you. It's in there. You can also keep a testimony journal. Write down every prayer and all the prayers that were answered, every victory, every door God opened, every time He showed up. And when doubt appears, you revisit God's faithfulness. As I look back over my life, there are so many things. First of all, there's been so much grace. So much grace. And the Lord always comes and gets me when I stray. But there's so many doors that I could, I just could tell you story after story that maybe even in the moment I didn't realize it was God opening doors and laying out that step. But after it's all said and done, and I look back, I can see how God laid every step and opened every door. He's still doing that because I'm still in a part of my life. I'm still in transition trying to figure out what the next steps are. And I think part of it is he's waiting for me to get over the imposter syndrome and to truly believe that as a child of God, I can do anything that he calls me to do. But if we remind ourselves of every victory, every door that God opened, every time he shows up, when the doubt appears, we just have to revisit that and stand on that. And then take the next step anyway. Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's moving forward despite fear. Let me say that again. Courage isn't the absence of fear. We're always going to have fear. It's moving forward despite fear. You don't need all the answers, you just need to take the next step. And that's where our faith comes in. That's where our obedience comes in. That's where trust comes in that we know the Lord's got us, right? He's always got us. He does all things for good. He knows the plans he has for us. All of these things have been told to us in the Bible, and we believe them. So I have a challenge for you today. Maybe you've been shrinking back, whether it's because you're hiding from some, let me rephrase that. Maybe it's because you're with someone who doesn't like you to shine. Or maybe you have friends that don't like you to shine because they don't want you to win. They don't want you to pass them, they don't want you to become better than them or move farther than them. So maybe you've been shrinking back for whatever reason. And maybe it's simply been because the imposter thoughts have been taken over your mind. And again, take those thoughts captive. Maybe you've been shrinking back. Maybe you've been sitting on a dream, a ministry, a business, a book, a podcast, or a calling because you don't feel qualified. Kindle talks in one of her episodes about how when she was starting her podcast, she was afraid her voice, what if my voice isn't right? And I don't remember the exact words that she said, but basically that I'm not, I'm not gonna, God's not putting our voice through a simulator of some sort to see if it comes out, if it's good enough. It just, it just is. So if you've been sitting on any dream because you don't feel qualified, remember this: God knew everything about you before he called you. He knew your weaknesses, he knew your mistakes, he knew your fears, and he called you anyway. First of all, isn't that amazing? If you really take a minute and wrap your mind around that, he called us anyway, as messed up as we are, as fearful as we are, as control freaks as we are, as fill in the blank, he called us anyway. The voice telling you that you're an imposter isn't God's voice. Sisters and brothers, hear me when I say this. God's voice says you are chosen, you are equipped, you are called, you are loved, and because Christ lives in you, you already have everything that you need to take the next step. So stop asking, who am I? And start asking, who is God and what can He do through me? Because that's where freedom begins. What if somebody's freedom is tied up in chokehold because they're waiting on your story or your voice to set them free? Are you willing to keep them in bondage the rest of their life because what you have to say is what they need to hear to set them free? Thank you for joining me today. Until next time, remember you were not created to live defeated. Through Christ, you were born to win. I love you all, and I'll talk to you soon.