When I was younger, like most of my friends at the time, we didn't have the luxury of remote-controlled televisions. If we didn’t like what was on, we had to get up and change the channel manually. Even when the first cable boxes came out, we still had to physically adjust the settings until we found something worth watching. A mentor of mine, Victor Anderson, once told me, "Alex, if you don't like what you're watching on the television, get up and change the channel." Essentially, he was telling me that we all have a responsibility to take accountability for creating the life we desire. This empowerment perspective is vital to our personal growth and success.
But here's the reality: as the long days of life have come and gone, we've hit some bumps in the road. We've had to make adjustments for things we didn’t plan for. Slowly, we’ve become comfortable putting our dreams and desires on the back burner. We’ve settled for handling daily fires instead of igniting a fire to walk in destiny and purpose. That comfort is inconvenient. It keeps us stagnant, preventing us from reaching the treasure that is our "why"—the thing that fuels our passion, motivates us, and brings joy even in turbulent circumstances. Jesus put it this way: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21. So let me ask you: Where is your heart? If you’re simply coasting through life, never pushing yourself, you’ll never fully realize your potential. Don’t let comfort hold you back from new levels of purpose and fulfillment.
Another reason we settle for inconvenient comfort is our fear of failure. This fear is often rooted in false beliefs that we are incompetent, incomplete, or alone. We tell ourselves:
But let me challenge you here: failing is not the end—it’s part of the process. When Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water, he began to sink. Not because he wasn’t called, but because his fear momentarily outweighed his faith. And yet, Jesus didn’t leave him drowning—He reached out His hand and pulled Peter back up. How courageous would you be if you knew that Jesus wouldn’t let you drown?Failure is not a sign of incompetence; it’s the tuition you pay for the school of greatness. Instead of fearing failure, fear regret. No one wants to look back on life and wonder, What if I had just tried?
Closely tied to this fear of failure is something psychologists call Impostor Syndrome—the persistent belief that you are not good enough, despite evidence to the contrary. A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science found that 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point in their careers. That means out of 10 people you know, 7 struggle with feeling unworthy, invalid, or undeserving of their success. In theological terms, impostor syndrome is a crisis of identity—it’s the tension between our self-perception and God’s perspective of our worth. Consider Peter’s reaction in Luke 5:8. After witnessing Jesus perform a miraculous catch of fish, Peter falls to his knees and says, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" This is a perfect example of spiritual impostor syndrome. Peter felt unworthy in the presence of Jesus’ greatness. But Jesus didn’t reject him—He chose him.
Now is not the time to shrink back. Now is not the time to embrace feelings of inadequacy. Know this for sure: you have been chosen. You are accepted. You are equipped to handle whatever comes across your path. Shrug off the comfort of playing small and step into your destiny. Instead of asking, What if I fail?—start asking, What if I succeed? When you lead with confidence and trust in your divine calling, impostor syndrome fades, and you step into the fullness of who you were created to be.