Pretender?

One of my favorite older TV shows is called The Pretender.

The main character, Jared, is a child prodigy raised in a secret experimental facility. As a young adult, he breaks out, determined to find his origin story. In the meantime, he seeks to right the wrongs of the world by pretending to be different kinds of professionals, infiltrating big corporations, and exposing their nefarious deeds.

In one of my favorite scenes, Jared, posing as a gifted doctor, walks into an older woman’s room and begins reading her chart. She says, “Are you a doctor?” Jared smiles warmly and replies, “I am today.”

How often do we feel like pretenders? We smile and say we are fine, but inside we are struggling with disappointment, shame, failed relationships, negative emotions, and fear.

Many times when I sit down to write, I feel like a fake. I want to tell everyone about the wonders of God, but deep down I battle doubts.

But when reading Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations, I realize doubts are not uncommon. Great kings and warriors who accumulated incredible wealth had great faith, but they also dealt with their share of doubts and fears. After witnessing an amazing miracle of God, God’s chosen prophet, Elijah, ran away and hid because of threats to his life.

While we may not be chosen prophets, Romans 2:11 in the Amplified Bible says, “For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another].”

Don’t worry about feeling like a pretender. Believe in yourself and your abilities. You are here for a purpose, and God will help you find and fulfill that purpose. If someone asks you, “Are you full of faith?” You can smile warmly and say, “I am today.”

Psalm 13
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

Recommended Reading: Elijah’s contest on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings chapter 18. If you read on through 2 Kings chapter 2, you will learn Elijah’s fate! Start reading in Bible Gateway here.