Who Am I?

Imposter Syndrome – have you heard of it? 

It’s the feeling someone gets that they are not really qualified to be in a certain position or speak to a certain situation, even though they do in fact have the qualifications. 

I remember having this feeling as a new occupational therapist just starting out.  I had the knowledge, but putting it into practice is an entirely different thing. 

As I have entered a new season of writing about Biblical topics, I sometimes have this same feeling.  I have not been to seminary, but I have done a great deal of study as a layperson and audited a few seminary classes.  Still, sometimes I think, “Who am I, to be writing about such weighty things?”.

Imposter Syndrome seems to be a common malady when someone is given a job to do and is wading into the unknown.

I’m reminded of the story of Moses and the burning bush.  God met Moses there and told him his assignment. But right away Moses comes in with his excuses, “Who am I?” he says, “that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He could not conceive that he had what it took, that anyone would believe his experience, that it was his mission to free his people. 

God’s answer to Moses is “I will be with you.”   Shouldn’t that be enough?  But still Moses doubts and wants more information.  He wants to put more of the pieces in place before he goes forward. 

How like us – we want all the answers before we begin.  Instead of taking a first step in faith, we want to plan and calculate, and have everything figured out, often to the point where not much faith is even required.   

Moses begins to reason, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

God answers with, “I AM WHO I AM.”   

So while Moses says, “Who am I?”, God answers with, “I AM.” 

“I AM the God of your fathers.” 

 “I AM” has heard the cry of his people and He will deliver them. 

He is everything we need, and He will equip us for what He calls us to do.

So the next time you feel that prompting, that nudge to do something bold for the Kingdom, don’t ask “Who am I?”

Instead, trust in “I AM.”