When I was in college, I really struggled with my “calling” to preach. As a freshman, I knew God wanted me to explore preaching and learning how to share the gospel well, but I couldn’t fully grasp all that meant. So, as I began to get opportunities to speak alongside other young preachers, going on trips to give us experience, visiting camps, and such, I really became insecure.

I couldn’t preach as well as other students. They knew more about the Bible than I did. When they would discuss philosophy and theology, I was the one quietly listening in the corner. I just wasn’t quite where everyone else was and I felt a bit insecure about who I was in Christ, questioning if I was called into ministry at all despite having felt compelled to it.

God really had to work on me, using my friends and professors to grow me up in a lot of ways that I couldn’t have done on my own.

That being said, I want to help you understand there’s something beautiful about reaching a point in life where you’re simply comfortable in your skin. Not complacent in your walk with God, but when you know that Christ is telling you to do something and that is ENOUGH for you. It’s fine if you’re different than others in your field, or if you even lack talent and ability compared to them. The point is that you’re obedient to who God has called you to be while also being teachable, learning from those around you.

I’m glad some friends and mentors  helped me with this early on, because I think it’s incredibly common, not just among young adults, but people in general. We feel pressure to retract because we don’t feel “good enough” or we feel the need to compensate by becoming something we’re not.

If you’re a young adult feeling pressure to put on a front for others to see, hoping that it makes you “acceptable” to them, I really want to encourage you to ask God to give you divine contentment with who you are in Christ as well as an earthly discontentment with a mediocre lifestyle.

The truth is that you’re imperfectly perfect. Scripture calls you the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10), meaning that you are His masterpiece. Gain confidence from that verse knowing that, despite what you feel, what culture tells you, or the pressures you have rising up in you to be fake, God is your portion.

When you find yourself insecure, don’t try to compensate with pride. It will reinforce the potential for sin in your heart and begin to harden you. Instead, rest in the Lord and His ability to know what’s best for you. You have no pressure to perform for anyone. You’re not in a race against others in your field. Be obedient and trust Him; He will make you everything He wants based on that.