Imposter Syndrome
Rather listen to this blog? Listen to Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome…ever heard of it? Even if you haven’t, I can bet money you’ve experienced it. It’s defined as a psychological pattern in which someone doubts their skills or talents, and believes they do not deserve all they have achieved.
In a time when many people are working from home and are sorely lacking in the face-to-face interaction department, it’s difficult to determine what constitutes doing a good job anymore. I’m the kind of person who desires feedback, whether that’s a pat on the back or an email telling me a project needs a little more work before it can be deemed complete. During this pandemic, reassurance is nice. With all of the craziness happening in the world today, you start to wonder: Do I even deserve the job I have?
Families are starving and struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Loved ones are being lost daily and don’t even get to hold someone’s hand while saying goodbye for the last time. Politics are sowing hate on both sides of the aisle, which only adds to the divisiveness we are experiencing in this time when we have to imagine what someone’s smile looks like because we are wearing masks (rightly) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This leads those who have been affected to wonder, “what did I do to deserve this?” Inversely, those who have been unaffected may develop survivor’s guilt, asking, “why am I the one who’s safe?”
Naturally, I don’t have an answer to either side of the question. The women in my Bible study group often joke that when we get to Heaven, God’s gonna have some ‘splainin’ to do. You can live your life as close to the Bible as you possibly can, and still have bad things happen to you. If Imposter Syndrome is the belief that one doesn’t deserve all the good that comes their way, I’d say more of us have fallen into the trap of Spoiled Syndrome: The constant mindset of “I read the Bible every night, give to the poor, and never lie, cheat, or steal, so why won’t God grant me this one thing I want?”
Know this: God doesn’t owe you anything. He’s God; you aren’t. It’s as simple as that. If you’re a Christian, you know it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The next part of this verse is vital to break yourself of the “deserving” mentality: “This is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
We don’t deserve God’s grace; it’s something He gives freely. We can work 60-hour weeks, spend every day of our lives at a soup kitchen, or give everything we own to someone less fortunate, and it still won’t be enough for us to deserve this amazing gift. So the next time you find yourself questioning why He isn’t answering your prayers, ask yourself if your heart and mind are in the right place. There’s no guarantee He’ll grant you what you ask for, but it’s a better start than going into it with an entitled mindset.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
