Several years ago, I was invited to teach a class related to media and ministry at the college level as a part-time adjunct professor. It was an opportunity I never would have imagined, and I was thrilled at the prospect of helping prepare young people for ministry.

But as I started to dig into the assignments from the instructor who taught the class before me, I began to question the structure of the class. And the more I looked through the content, the more I stopped questioning the structure and started questioning my own ability to teach the class. Imposter syndrome kicked in. Self-doubt began parading in my mind.

I was comparing myself to another professor I had never even met before.

And then I came across a website where students rate their professors, and the thought of being negatively evaluated by my future students caused me to completely freeze up. I became convinced that I had no business teaching this class.

While I contemplated entirely backing out from teaching, I decided to journal out my thoughts. As I came face to face with my insecurities, I finally had a breakthrough. In that moment, I wrote this in my journal:

“Don’t worry about what the guy before you did with the class. This is your class, and God will help you to teach what they need to know.”

I had been trying to figure out how to be as good as the professor who came before me.

Then I realized something: I wasn’t called to be him. I was called to be me. I finally felt freedom to teach the class in my own unique way.

Since then, I’ve become increasingly convinced that U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt was right when he said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Once you’re locked in its grasp, it can be very difficult to struggle free. We see the Apostle Paul addressing this very issue in 2 Corinthians 10:12:

But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! (NLT)

In order to grow and be healthy, we have to stop worrying about what others will think. We have to stop comparing our appearance, skillfulness, and abilities to others.

If you’re finding yourself caught in the grip of the thief, I want to share three tips for breaking free:

  1. Soak in the truth of God’s Word – we all need a daily spiritual reset as we renew our minds in God’s truth.
  2. Rest in the security of God’s grace – because of Jesus and His sacrifice for us, we’re not defined by our weakness … or even our success.
  3. Press forward in confidence – do the work God has given you without checking to see how you measure up.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Galatians 6:4 (NLT)

God hasn’t called you to be someone else. He has called you to faithfully be who He created you to be.

Blessings,