Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

1 Corinthians 1:27 – “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

The term “imposter syndrome” is fairly new but many people seem to be struggling with it. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as, “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” Does that seem familiar to you? If you’re in a coveted job but you feel woefully unqualified, or you’ve been given a responsibility that seems beyond your abilities, you might suffer from some form of imposter syndrome. You feel it’s only a matter of time before people realize your inadequacy. If that’s you, today’s verse is a truth you can hold on to.

The Bible says that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the mighty. We don’t work from our own wisdom and strength. When we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, it’s His grace that carries us each day. When we solve a critical problem, complete a complicated task, or achieve a significant goal, we realize it’s not our own efforts or skills that brought us this far. It is the Lord’s grace.

The remedy to imposter syndrome is not pride in what you’ve accomplished. It’s humility and gratitude that God has been with you and helped you every step of the way. In James 4:6, we read: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” The more you acknowledge God’s work in and through you, the more you will receive His grace to excel at everything He’s called you to.