
I was in my first year of law school, and all the first year students were required to participate in the moot court competition.
Moot court is where you are given a fake case to argue against a real law student in front of a panel of fake judges made up of real attorneys . During the argument, the judges interrupt you, challenge your reasoning, and try to trip you up. You have to think on your feet and speak persuasively. The thought of having to participate in moot court created real stress for me.
I never thought I was quick on my feet, and am not naturally a good speaker. I wasn’t sure I belonged in law school. Today they call this imposter syndrome. We called it insecurity, or by its more benign tag: a lack of confidence.
Whatever you call it, it drove me to my knees there in my dormitory room, and I prayed, “Lord, you know I am not naturally a good speaker, and I am really scared about doing this.” As I prayed for the Lord’s help, I saw in my spirit, “Exodus 4:10.”
I had no idea what Exodus 4:10 said; I just saw “Exodus 4:10.” So, I grabbed my Bible and when turned it to Exodus 4:10, I couldn’t believe what it said:
Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
Exodus 4:10-11 (NASB)
It was so clear the Lord had spoken to me in that moment that I was immediately filled with an overwhelming confidence. I had gone from diffidence to confidence in a moment because of a word from God.
I carried that confidence into the moot court competition, ultimately advancing all the way to the quarterfinals before I finally lost, and in that success that was born out of my insecurity, I learned a lesson I would never forget.
Insecurity was not to be avoided or ignored but embraced because it turned me to the Lord, and when I turned to the Lord in my in my insecurity, He responded with His power, and when He responded with His power it enabled me to do more than I could do in my own strength:
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)
Do you feel like an imposter in your job? Do you feel you are in over your head? Good. You are probably right. We are all in over heads to one degree or another. Embracing that truth is the catalyst that should turn us to God.
And that’s what changes everything. GS