…When Impostor Syndrome Wears a Suit and Tie
I remember when I got my first public speaking invitation.
Small hall. Small crowd. Big fear.
But it wasn’t just the fear of public speaking.
It was that quiet voice in my head whispering:
“You’re not good enough.”
“You’re too young.”
“You don’t know as much as they think you do.”
It’s called Impostor Syndrome, and it wears many faces.
Sometimes it hides behind a smile.
Other times, it shows up as self-sabotage… deleting your CV before hitting ‘send’, not pitching that idea, or shrugging when someone compliments your work.
And the scary part?
You start to believe it.
You tell yourself you’re “playing it safe,” but really, you’re just staying small.
Not because you can’t grow, but because you’re scared someone will notice that you’re still learning.
But let’s take a moment to read 1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Paul didn’t tell Timothy, “You’re young so take a step back and learn quietly.”
He said, “Stand tall. Be bold. Set an example.”
In other words:
God knows you’re young… and He still called you.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- You don’t have to feel qualified to show up.
- You don’t have to know everything to be impactful.
- God doesn’t need you to be perfect. He just needs you to say yes.
The job, the stage, the business plan, the application — it’s not always about being “ready.”
Sometimes, it’s about being willing.
So if you’ve been doubting yourself lately…
If you’ve paused on that big move because “what if I fail?”
Here’s a better question: what if you don’t?
What if the person you think you’re not… is the person you’re becoming?
You’re not an impostor.
You’re just in motion.
Keep going. Heaven believes in you.
I believe in you…
