06/02/2026
If I’m being completely transparent, imposter syndrome is something I wrestle with often.
As someone who didn’t grow up in the horse industry, it’s probably one of my biggest insecurities.
I catch myself saying things like:
“I’ve just gotten lucky with the horses I’ve worked with.”
“The only reason people know who I am is because I’m a loud, opinionated girl who posts her thoughts online.”
“There are horsemen I’ve worked with who deserve far more recognition than I do because they’ve spent more years doing this and have far more experience.”
The truth is, there are many times I look at the path God has put me on and don’t fully understand it. If I were the one writing the story, I probably wouldn’t have chosen myself for many of the opportunities He’s placed in front of me.
But that’s exactly where faith comes in.
Because when I allow those thoughts to take root, I find myself doing what imposter syndrome always does—I stop moving forward. I stand idle. I second-guess myself. I talk myself out of opportunities. I convince myself someone else is more qualified, more knowledgeable, more deserving, or better equipped.
Yet nowhere in Scripture do we see God choosing people because they were the most qualified.
Moses doubted his ability to speak (Exodus 4:10).
Gideon believed he came from the weakest family and was the least qualified (Judges 6:15).
Jeremiah thought he was too young (Jeremiah 1:6).
Peter was an ordinary fisherman.
Paul had a past he couldn’t erase.
Again and again, God chose imperfect people who felt inadequate.
Why?
Because God has never needed our qualifications to accomplish His purpose.
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27
One of the most freeing things I’ve come to realize is that God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
When God places a horse, an opportunity, a ministry, a business, or a responsibility in front of us, our job isn’t to decide whether we’re worthy of it. Our job is simply to be obedient.
Imposter syndrome says, “Who am I to do this?”
Faith says, “Who is God that called me?”
That’s a very different question.
Because the focus shifts from our ability to His.
I’ve realized that every time I let imposter syndrome keep me standing still, I’m essentially telling God that my opinion of myself matters more than His opinion of me.
And that’s a hard truth to swallow.
Just like in horsemanship, confidence isn’t developed by standing in the pasture wondering if you’re ready. Confidence is developed by saddling up, stepping on, and trusting the process.
Faith works the same way.
We don’t gain confidence by waiting until we feel qualified. We gain confidence by walking forward in obedience and watching God equip us along the way.
So if you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, maybe the question isn’t whether you’re qualified.
Maybe the question is whether you’re willing to trust the One who called you there in the first place.
“Being confident doesn’t mean believing in yourself. It means believing that God is faithful despite your weaknesses.”
And that is something I’m still learning every day.
By Sara Jean Wedel