Fight Impostor Syndrome With A Prayer For Confidence At Work!
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Have you ever experienced impostor syndrome at work? You’re qualified, experienced and competent, maybe even an expert in your field, but you feel like you don’t belong in your place of work, ministry or position of authority? That’s me. All. The. Time.
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When I look back on my career as an editor and writer, I can see that I have always felt like I’m just ‘winging it’, that I don’t really know what I’m doing and that I don’t quite deserve my seat at the table.
After my journalism degree, I just didn’t feel like I had enough experience. Then I began working for a magazine publisher, writing and then editing knitting magazines. Despite being promoted four years out of five, I didn’t really feel like it ‘counted’ – I mean it was knitting, not exactly hard core journalism!
What followed was nearly a decade of second guessing myself, excusing myself and shrinking back – despite being perfectly qualified, experienced and competent in my various roles. As a working mum, my ‘excuses’ now revolve around me being ‘only part-time’, female in a male dominated industry, young(er) and only being in the organisation for a perfectly adequate, but short amount of time in comparison to others.
So how do you operate with confidence at work? How do you create a prayer for confidence in the workplace? How do you involve God in your career every day? Let me share some lessons I’ve learnt.
SAVE ME FOR LATER!
4 Ways To Pray For Confidence At Work
1. Know Who You Are
Whatever your industry, job, skill-set or status, you’re still you – uniquely created by the one true God of the universe.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO or an office junior, make sure that you’re allowing Him to define you – not your performance review, not your boss, and not the college professor who raised their eyebrows at your ambition.
Follow Paul’s example – at the beginning of every letter before he spoke into the lives of others, he declared who he was and who had sent him. “This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group or by human authority. My call is from Jesus Christ himself and from God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.” (Galatians 1:1).
If you know who you are, and who sent you, you’re going to go into your job bold and confident!
2. Know Why You’re Here
You can’t feel confident at work, if you don’t really know why you’re there. Without an innate sense of purpose you run the risk of simply going through the motions and shrinking back, which will do nothing for your confidence. You don’t have to be a high flyer, big money-maker or person of power to have purpose.
Matthew 5 tells us “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth… You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14, MSG).
So if you’re wondering why you’re here – that’s why. And you can walk confidently in that purpose every day of your life whether you’re in the board room or the janitor’s closet.
3. Know that God Qualifies You And Equips You
The Bible is full of people who either didn’t feel qualified or who, quite frankly, just weren’t qualified for the job!
Moses was not a great communicator, Gideon was the least of the least, and Joseph rose to a position of authority from prison. If you are working where God has called you, He will qualify you.
Of course you have a responsibility to develop, improve and do your best – but if you ever feel ‘less than’, remember that if God has called you to your position, he will equip you, empower you and qualify you for the role. “Now may the God of peace… equip you with everything good for doing his will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
God has given you gifts and talents, and your life experience up to this point has led you to your place in the world today. You can learn the rest. God provided me with my current role on a silver platter (you can read that story here) – only He could have provided something so perfect. So when you feel unqualified, you have to remind yourself – God has given you this job. Do it. And do it to the best of your abilities!
4. Know That Your Success Comes From God
Out of everyone in the Bible, Joseph had a pretty good career – starting out as shepherd boy, he rose through the ranks to become one of the most powerful people in Egypt – sure there were a few hiccups along the way but all things considered he ended up with a pretty awesome resumé!
In Genesis 39 we see that Potipihar “saw that the Lord was with him and the Lord gave him success in everything he did.” Our success comes from the Lord. Doesn’t that give you confidence?!
So, with all that in mind, how can we pray for confidence at work?
Some people swear by daily affirmations – there is power in declaring truth over your life. Some people feel more confident when they’ve begun their day with Jesus.
If you’re like me, and your day begins with a frantic school run before you arrive at the office, frazzled and exhausted before the day has begun, then you might prefer your prayers on the run! However you decide to declare these truths over your life, you won’t regret involving Jesus in your workplace.
A Prayer For Confidence At Work
Father God, thank you that you have gifted me uniquely for the role that you’ve given me. Thank you that through this job you’ve provided me with a way to provide for my family, and that whatever my career looks like, you will continue to provide for me every day. Thank you that you’ve chosen me, qualified me, equipped me and called me for a purpose. Help me to live out that purpose in my workplace.
Thank you that all my success comes from you – help me to trust in you more than I trust in my own abilities. Position me amongst people who will champion my development and who will encourage me and teach me when I’m still learning. I pray that one day you will use my position to encourage and teach others. Give me the confidence I need to do my job well, and grant me favour in my workplace so that I might glorify you every day. Thank you for always being with me, giving me the confidence to walk in your authority. Amen.
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Need More Prayers For Confidence At Work?
If you still find yourself needing a prayer for confidence at work, let us know below. We would love to pray for you!
Linda
Sunday 26th of June 2022
I am a childcare worker in a school for autistic children 2-3 years old and there are 3 young girls that I work alongside of and Friday I heard them talking about me I am shy and don't prefer any problems at 40 years old but I am trying to ignore it so it will go away being new to the job and much older please pray for this situation to get better for me. I find that my last job I ignore it and 4 months later it got so bad I had to quit