And yet, and yet…

Imposter syndrome is a heck of a thing.

I remember as a Freshman in college being put in charge of a team of 5 other freshmen as we traveled around Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana leading recreation for Christian camps. As an 18 year old, I was driving a 15 passenger van towing a 15′ trailer, then handling money, designing recreation, teaching studies. I had no idea what I was doing! And yet, trusting in the Lord we all somehow survived the summer…barely.

We’re in the Anxious Generation and we are rife with Imposter Syndrome. Millenials like me have moved into positions of authority and power and parenting. The hilarious thing is that we have no idea what we are doing. I believe that for many this is the root of much of their anxiety…the constant low-burning, grinding fear that we’ll screw up the world.

And yet there’s nothing new under the sun. I think about the young men who fought in World Wars and Vietnam. I think about the homesteaders. I think about essentially every generation before our own and the responsibilities they took on at a young age. My sneaking suspicion is that they likewise didn’t really know what they were doing.

Proverb 4:7 says, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom…” I hate that verse. Outside of not really making grammatical sense, my Imposter Syndrome flutters up in raving confusion and I’m beset by the same fears asking, “Who am I to do any of this?”

And yet, thus is wisdom. It’s never found sitting still, but it is found along the way. The path is found not in avoiding the pain and faults and potholes of life, but in trusting in the Lord for victory through them. After it all, wisdom was gotten by getting it. Or as we say in Texas, Go on now, git it!

No one climbs until their soles dig into the dirt and stone and push up. In your life, you may lack wisdom and have fear of not knowing the path. Walk forward, taking the knowledge from the Bible, the Word of God, knowing that it’s sufficient for your path. You will slip and fall at places; wisdom says to regain the trail. The biggest defeat is giving up that journey. We are not imposters on the path, we’re conquerors.