Focus On God. That Is All That Matters

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 1:17-23

Just about everyone has heard the term “imposter syndrome” at least once. Very likely nearly as many have experienced some semblance of it more than once.

Indeed, the human capacity for self-doubt (which, broadly speaking, is the essence of imposter syndrome) seems almost limitless. Certainly my capacity to doubt myself or my abilities rises again and again and again, like a dark and perverse phoenix.

Nor does it help when people carp and criticize, which many people seem to enjoy doing. We are surrounded by negative voices and negative personalities striving to tear us down. I genuinely believe some do it simply because such activities amuse and entertain them.

Between internal self-doubt and external mockery, even the smallest of missteps can appear calamitous. I have noticed that it need not even be an actual mistake I have made, but merely the misfortune of wandering into a difficult and challenging situation. The need to have an awkward and difficult conversation with a client in my own mind becomes the beginning of business and employment disaster—long before the conversation even happens!

Or sometimes I simply uncover a problem that requires the input of others to fix—and I fear that I will be blamed, as I am the one who brings the matter to their attention.

These are not rational fears. I know they are not rational fears. I know there is no basis for these fears.

Yet these fears persist. For me at least, these fears, and the nagging doubts about self are never far away. Reason and logic are simply not enough to vanquish them.

That is a troubling reality for me. I am demonstrably an intelligent person, and I have proven that to myself and those around me time and again. Reason and logic are supposed to be among my greatest gifts.

Yet reason and logic fall short, time and again. Doubt remains. Fear remains. Negative and intrusive thoughts remain.

What shall I do—what can I do—to overcome fear and doubt? At times it seems like there is nothing I can do.

Then—usually during my morning prayer practice—I realize that nothing is exactly what I should do. Rather than be consumed by fear and doubt, what I should be doing is focusing on the task at hand, whatever that task is.

I should concentrate on what I will say during that awkward conversation.

I should focus on how to solve that unpleasant problem.

Instead of worrying about whether I am any good at what I must do, I need to simply do it. Good or bad, strong or weak, I need to bring my best efforts to bear. The rest is out of my hands, and has always been out of my hands.

I need to bring my best efforts to bear, and understand that all that follows is whatever God has ordained. Regardless of the outcome, it is always His will that is done and never mine.

Will I be celebrated for my efforts while here on Earth? Certainly that would be nice, but that is not at all promised. If anything, if I am focused and dedicated on doing the right thing in whatever circumstance I inhabit, I am promised that other people will carp, will criticize, will try to tear me and my efforts down.

But I am not called to worry about such things. No one is called to worry about such things. We are called to do the right thing in every circumstance, and to let the consequences unfold however He wills.

I am called to attend to all the tasks put before me. I am called to give the very best of myself to each of them.

Will I be perfect in any of them? No. Mistakes will be made, for I am imperfect. I will make mistakes, I will try to make amends, and I will seek forgiveness. That is all I can do. That is all anyone can do.

Will God ensure that my efforts are met with success? He might—or He might not. My success or failure is not up to me, but up to Him. If I have done all I can do, and still I come up short, that is ultimately not my concern, nor my problem. If I have given my all, any failure or fallout that comes is a matter for God, not for me.

When I have done all I can do, I am done no matter the outcome. If I have not done all I can do, I am not done, no matter the outcome.

I find I am continually re-learning that to focus all that I have to offer any task means trusting God will take care of things. I am continually being reminded that until whatever purpose God has in store for me is fulfilled, my destiny is not yet accomplished. I do not know what that destiny is, but as I am to achieve it, it does follow that God would provide what I need to push through to the conclusion.

It does not matter if I am smart. It does not matter if I am persuasive. All that matters is that I show up, that I keep my faith, and that I focus on the things that are most important—that I focus on God.

That is how I am called to approach each day. That is how we are all called to approach each day.

My prayer this day is that I will be constantly inspired to focus on God and not on the world. My prayer this day is that I will succeed in rising above my doubts and my fears by keeping my focus on God and what He has called me to do. My prayer this day is that I will keep my faith, and trust in the outcomes God has ordained for my life.

My prayer for you is that you also will be constantly inspired to focus on God and not on the world. My prayer for you is that you will succeed in rising above your doubts and your fears, keeping your focus on God and what He has called you to do. My prayer for you is that you will keep your faith, and trust in the outcomes God has ordained for your life.

It does not matter if we are smart. It does not matter if we are persuasive. All that matters is that we show up, that we keep our faith, and that we focus on the things that are most important—that we focus on God.

That is how we are called to approach this day, and every day.