When the biker gang showed up, I was sitting in my truck, eating a slice of greasy pizza and a Pepsi while minding my own business.

It was thirty years ago and feels like yesterday.

Today I was minding my own business, drinking a cup of dark Italian roast and was taken back to that very moment:

Hot sun.

Picnic table.                      

Fear.

 An argument with God.

Backed out.

Lately I’ve been struggling with “impostor syndrome”.

It’s that persistent voice of self-doubt that says, “You’re in over your head and aren’t cut out for this. You don’t really belong here. Others do, but you don’t”.

I’m told it’s common when you’re making progress, but man is it annoying.

Well, dark roast in hand (better than a Pepsi at my age) I picked up my Bible and started into Jeremiah. As I read Jer. 1:4-9 it all came back.

Thirty years earlier when those Bikers showed up and sat at a picnic table right in front of my face while eating their pizza, I felt God prompting me to go tell them about Jesus.

I wasn’t thrilled, I was afraid. I was young in my faith and didn’t like the assignment. In fact, I argued with God about it.

As I pressed “play” for my Bible study tape (to change the subject!) the words “look at them Lord, I’m not doing this!” had just left my mouth.

In that moment, Jeremiah 1:4-9 played. “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee”.

I was stunned and speechless.

What would you do at that moment?

The difference between me and Jeremiah was that he stepped into his imposter syndrome, I put the vehicle in reverse and quietly drove away. Fear had won even though I had God’s assurance.

Both the coward and the courageous face fear. The difference is that one backs away while the other steps into it and does the thing.

Over the years, I’ve been both. You probably have too.

When that voice of self-doubt is trying to back you away from worthwhile progress or what you believe God wants, know that imposter syndrome is normal.

Read the rest of Jeremiah one and you see what made the difference. Jeremiah listened to the Lord not self-doubt, fear or that look on their faces.

He wrote a book full of the messages God gave him to speak regardless of their faces! Fear doesn’t have to win it just has to be reckoned with one courageous step at a time.

God knew what I needed thirty years ago — and today — then used the same verses to encourage me. It’s how God does it. Go figure!

When I put my Bible and empty cup down I knew what God wanted. And when I opened my email there was an encouraging message from a reader just like you that made my day. Thank you!

Doubt doesn’t define the mission. I’m listening to the Lord and stepping into the fear!

Here’s my question for you. What doubt, fear or voice needs to be reckoned with so courage can be your next step? Reply and let me know. I love hearing from you.

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