For anyone struggling with imposter syndrome.

Raise your hand if you've ever felt unqualified. Imposter syndrome? I've got something for you, then.

I think imposter syndrome is rampant. I have it. And honestly, there are few people who I've talked to who haven't struggled with it, at least at some point. It's the idea that you are just faking it. You aren't really qualified. That you're a fraud. And that you'll be found out.

Sound familiar?

I heard something yesterday that helped me with imposter syndrome. I think it might help you. The little nugget is found in the biblical book of Judges. Maybe you've heard of Gideon? If so, you've heard bout his "brave 300" and about how he led a small militia and defeated a huge army.

But there's something at the beginning of his story that doesn't get a lot of attention. I know, this is a little "Bible-ey" but just give it a minute.

In the beginning of Gideon's story, an angel appears to tell Gideon that he's been chosen to lead a rebellion against Israel's oppressors. Gideon's response is basically, "Yeah, no. Do you know who I am? I'm a farmer from a crap family, and I'm the crappiest guy in that crap family." He tries to convince the angel that he's a nobody, in other words. He's unqualified. He'll be a fake. God's got the wrong guy.

Am I hitting a nerve? Let's keep going, because here's where it gets really interesting for us "imposters."

When the angel first addresses Gideon in the story, he uses a strange phrase. He calls Gideon a "mighty warrior." Think about that. Gideon had done NOTHING yet. In fact, when the story opens, he's literally messing around with wheat in the barn. It's like an angel appearing to the high school dropout that's shoveling poop in the cow barn and saying, "Hey Bob, you war hero you. You're a general and Medal of Honor winner and you're going to lead the U.S. Army in battle against Russia."

You seeing this?

Here's why I think that's significant, and it has to do with identity to start. I've been talking about identity a lot, and I'm going to continue talking about it. Get used to it.

See, the angel starts out the conversation by giving Gideon his identity before he had done ANYTHING related to that identity. In other words, before he had "earned" the right to be the thing he was ("mighty warrior"), God saw it. God spoke it over him. God knew.

I think we get that so backwards sometimes, right? That's why we feel like imposters. We may have an inkling, but we're looking around saying, "But I'm not that right now. I haven't proven I'm that." And what we don't realize is that God gives us our identity BEFORE we walk in it. We think we have to do X, Y, and Z to EARN our identity, but God is saying, "No, this is who you are. NOW go walk in it."

That just blows my mind. It's small. It's simple. But it's powerful.

Here's the second thing quick. After God gives Gideon his identity as a mighty warrior, and after Gideon tries convincing him he's a nothing, the angel says one more thing that's important. He sends him out with these words:

"Go in the strength you have..."

I don't know about you, but I love that. Yes, God was calling Gideon to big things. But he says, "Go in the strength you have." In other words, God's saying, "Whatever inkling of confidence you have right now, use that. And just go. Be obedient. I'll take care of the 'mighty warrior' part." And boy, does he (God) ever.

Friend, you may not have much confidence to do what you know you need to do. But God has given you an identity, and he's telling you to "go in the strength you have." Whatever amount of strength that is, just use it. He'll take care of the rest. In fact, he later tells Gideon, "I will be with you."

I think that's crucial for those of us who have imposter syndrome. First step? Listen for your identity, no matter how crazy it is. Second step? "Go in the strength you have."

He'll take care of the rest. He's got you. And when you rest in that confidence and be obedient, don't be surprised at what happens next.

(Pic: One of the most confident people I know is my son, Jack. No imposter syndrome with him!)