Blessed by Believing

Luke 1:39-56 (ASV)
 
And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. And Mary said,
 
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid:
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
And holy is his name.
And his mercy is unto generations and generations
On them that fear him.
He hath showed strength with his arm;
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down princes from their thrones,
And hath exalted them of low degree.
The hungry he hath filled with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath given help to Israel his servant,
That he might remember mercy
(As he spake unto our fathers)
Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.
 
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.


Reflection
 
Imposter syndrome, which is an internal disbelief in your talents and abilities to do your job, can be an incredibly daunting mindset. The profound self-doubt it instills within oneself is among the most formidable obstacles I have ever faced, and it's a battle I find myself fighting against each and every day. Whether it was the moment I embarked on establishing my own company or my current role within the church, that same internal struggle persists. However, the nature of the conflict has shifted. Instead of the absence of a graphic design diploma on my wall, it's now the lingering memories of past transgressions that haunt me. My personal history reads like a catalog of the most grievous sins. I have grappled with addictions, infidelity, alcohol and drug abuse, breaching some of the most profound commandments. By all accounts, any one of these misdeeds should disqualify me from serving the church. Yet, here I am, dedicating my full-time efforts to God's work. This reality is something I never could have anticipated.

The weight of self-doubt that Mary must have carried when she received the news of being chosen to bear our Savior is beyond imagination. "Why me?" she might have questioned, feeling like an ordinary person from an obscure town. Yet, God didn't select Mary based on her social standing; He chose her because of her deep devotion to Him. Mary humbly describes herself as being of "low degree" and "hungry." It is evident that God doesn't seek out those who have it all together; instead, He seeks those who have struggled and faced rejection. He looks for individuals who, despite their past and present sins, yearn for redemption and strive to live according to His will. They possess an earnest desire to serve the Lord.

God saw the true repentant nature of my heart. He understood that despite the mistakes I have made, my heart continually yearned for Him and sought to serve Him alone. So, when I reflect upon the aspects of my past that I believe disqualify me, I am faced with two choices. I can either allow those mistakes to disqualify me and gradually descend into a state of mental darkness, or I can perceive them as experiences that have equipped me to extend love and support to others who grapple with similar struggles and sins. By embracing the latter, I can help guide them toward finding God and experiencing His transformative grace.


Action Steps
 

1. Seek support by finding a close friend, and share with them a doubt you have about yourself. Self-doubt often thrives in isolation. Sharing your experiences can help you realize that others may also struggle with similar feelings, and provide you with valuable support and perspective.
2. Write down in a journal the mistakes you have made in life and what you learned from those mistakes. Understand that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning and growth process. Instead of dwelling on your failures, focus on the lessons they offer.

Prayer
 
God. Thank You for sending Your Son to die so that my sins are forgiven. Help me understand that my mistakes do not define who I am. You do. When these thoughts of self-doubt creep up in my head, give me the strength to fight against them and understand the lesson I have learned from them, so I might be encouraged. Surround me with friends I can rely on and go to for guidance and encouragement. Amen.