Imposter Syndrome according to dictonary.com is

“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.”

Do you feel this way?  That no matter how hard you work you feel you deserve absolutly nothing you have. That no matter what you accomplish you feel like a fraud.

Does that sound like you?

Imposter Syndrome, especailly in ministry, is real. It can cause you to overwork yourself, struggle with praise and criticism, and lead to perfectionism.  It can, and will, debilitate you rather than flourish you.

HOW DO I OVERCOME IMPOSTER SYNDROME?

Take the praise you receive and praise God.  Even though you may struggle with the praise you receive because of your gifts, give the Gift Giver praise for what He has given you. This takes the focus off you and puts it back on God.

Seek Counseling. There may be some underlining issues that you need help with.  Often Imposter Syndrome stems from childhood. Seeking a counselor may put some perspective on why you are feeling the way you do.

Recongnize you DON’T deserve what you have. You read that right.  We may struggle because we know that we do not deserve the blessing of being called to ministry as well as some of the joys that go along with it. But let’s be real- none of us deserve what we have. That’s the beauty of the Gospel! It’s because Jesus is enough that we can be enough in Him. It’s because of Jesus that we get to be where we are, and if we deserved where we were, we wouldn’t depend on Him!

Imposter Syndrome is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is something you may need to recognize in yourself. You may not feel you deserve to be where you are, but it doesn’t matter. God has called you. So you can either choose to stay on the same path or get the help you need to thrive.