“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -- Ephesians 2:10
Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". The term was coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes.
“Impostor syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence.” (Caltech Counseling Center)
Basically it means that you have feelings that you’re not good enough, smart enough, successful enough and that you are only posing as such when the total opposite is true. Although this is also true of men, women tend to experience these feelings more profoundly especially if they struggle with low self-esteem and self-worth.
So, it is an ungodly belief rooted in the lie of the enemy about our worth. The enemy likes to try to convince us that we’re not good enough and that inner voice whispers loudly at us as we look in the mirror that we’re not pretty or handsome enough, or worthy enough for love. In fact, the exact opposite is true. We are each made in the image and likeness of God. We are His “designer originals” that were perfectly crafted by the Master’s Hand. So, you don’t need to be taller or smarter or more attractive to have worth in the Kingdom of God.
You’re not too young or too old to be used by Him. You were made or crafted by Him to accomplish a specific purpose in the earth. You have been gifted and are being anointed for that specific purpose. So, when we examine ourselves, we need to do so in light of the Word of God and our divine purpose and not in vain attempts to squeeze into a mold of what it means to be attractive or successful that we were never intended to fit in. You are not supposed to look like anyone else, sound like anyone else, or fulfil anyone else’s purpose. You were not created to be an Imposter but rather a Masterpiece in His eyes!
However, many of us have been trapped by the enemy in the lie that we need to be someone else in order to be great. So, we spend our days, weeks and years trying to be a copy of someone else instead of being the original work of art He crafted us to be. My encouragement to you this month is to choose not to be an imposter and reject the lie that you are somehow not enough. Instead choose to embrace your unique giftings, callings, and abilities. This is your season to shine for Him—you were made for more!
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