The 5 Questions To Ask When You Feel Unworthy

You open your phone, before your feet even hit the floor, you see that highlight reel. A perfect couple photo. A business win, maybe a ministry moment. A smiling family in matching outfits. And something just whispers to you, not you.Or maybe you walk into a room and you smile and you nod and you try to belong, but somewhere deep inside, you're thinking, if they really knew me, they wouldn't be impressing me at all. And sure, you want to serve God. You want to be faithful. You want to say yes. But sometimes the calling feels big and you feel small.Have you ever felt unworthy of God's assignment? That's a tough question, isn't it? But have you? And friend, if you have, you're not crazy. You're not alone.And the best part is, you're not disqualified. So today I want to talk with you. Today's not about being a lecturer, but I just want to talk to you as a brother. Like a fireside talk. Falls apart.Hello, I'm Ralph Estep Jr. This is Truth Unveiled with Ralph, where my goal every week is to pull the mask off of cultural lies and come home to Jesus.And today's lie is brutal. It's the lie that says, if you were really called, you wouldn't feel this insecure. That one stings, doesn't it?But God has an answer, and he put that answer right in Exodus at a burning bush moment with a man named Moses. Truth is culture. Disciples you all day long. Now, it doesn't do it with sermons, it does it with scrolls.Culture says things like, be impressive, be polished, be certain in this whopper, be flawless. Culture tells us our worth is in the performance, that our value is invisibility, and that our identity is in our outcomes.And if for some reason you can't prove you belong, guess what? You don't belong. So how does that make you feel? Really? How does that make you feel?See, for me, at times, it's made me feel like I really didn't belong. It was a lie. But the kingdom of God says something completely different. The kingdom of God says you're loved before you achieve.The kingdom of God says you're called before you perform. The kingdom of God says you're chosen by grace. And the kingdom of God says you're held by presence. So why does your heart still feel rejected?Another tough question. Because the war is not out there. It's in here. And it's the battle between cultural worthiness and covenant identity.Now, you might be saying, Ralph, those are big words, man. Those are big, churchy words. And they are a little bit. But it's super critical today that cultural worthiness versus covenant identity.Because culture says this, Culture says earn it. But Jesus contradicts that and says, no, receive it. Here it is. Culture says, prove it. And Jesus just sits back and says, follow me.Well, let's name this. Honestly, this unworthy feeling is widespread. One systematic review found imposter syndrome, and that's what we're talking about right now.Imposter syndrome prevalence varied widely across studies. Now, here's the part that kind of shocked me when I was doing the research for this show.From 9% to 82%, but it depended on the tool and the cutoff used. But in that data, that range tells you something, doesn't it? It's not rare. This is a climate, a climate that we're living in.It's a cultural reality for many of us. And the comparison engine, it just feeds it. Pew Research reported 45% of U.S. teens said they spend too much time on social media.I don't think I needed a research grant to prove that one. Look around. Teens are on social media all the time, but even their own selves, 45% felt like they spent too much time on it.And the APA reported teens spend nearly. Listen to this one. I just about fell out of my chair when I was playing in this.The APA reported teens spend nearly five hours daily, five hours a day. That's on social media. That's on average. And among the highest users of this, 41% rate their mental health as poor or very poor.Think about that for a second. Almost half their own mental health, they are saying poor or very poor.And listen, even if you're not a teenager, you feel the same current, don't you? Because the truth is, comparison doesn't just steal joy, it manufactures shame. Let me ask you this.How many times has a screen told you you're behind? Well, let's start with something very simple. I want to tell you something really simple, but something real. There's a moment many people hide.The moment you're about to do the right thing. Oh, this is the right thing. This is what I need to do. And in that moment, you feel exposed.Maybe you're about to lead something, you're about to serve, you're about to start something. Maybe you're about to apologize for something, or maybe you're about to share your faith. What great opportunities we had.But then that inner voice hits. And let me just be very candid with you right now. I felt this when I started this show that inner voice that says, who are you to do this?Who are you? Here I am. I'm an accountant. I'm a numbers guy. I'm certainly no theologian. I've never had any formal religious training.Maybe that's a good thing, right? But you don't just feel nervous in that moment. If it was nervous, you go, oh, I can get past that. But you feel unworthy. And see, that's Moses.Moses wasn't some young dreamer. And we're going to get into his story today. He's 80 years old when this happens. His story is full of scars.And, yeah, he tried to help once, and it blew up. And he ran and he hid and he settled into a moment of quiet survival. And I think looking back at it, Moses probably said, I'm done with this.I'm not going to try this. But then God shows up in a bush on fire. But that bush doesn't burn up. And God says, moses, go back. Set my people free.Now, most of us would have said, cool. God told me to go do something. I'm going to go do it. But that's not what Moses did. Moses asked God five questions.Yes, Moses questions God, not sure I would be able to do that. But you would. You question God. But these five questions that sound like your thoughts right now, and God answers every single one of them.Well, let's get right into our scripture. Today it's going to be super important that we land in scripture right away. Our first one is from the Book of Exodus, chapter 3, verses 11 and 12.Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? This is Moses asking this question, who am I, Lord? And God said, I will be with you. Didn't answer his question, did he?He just said, moses, guess what? I'm going to be with you. So picture this. Israel is enslaved in Egypt. Pharaoh is a superpower ruler. He is the ruler of all rulers.And here, Moses is a fugitive shepherd. Honestly, a failed deliverer. In his own mind, he failed it. You know, here his people are taken. And so he questions God. He says, who am I to do this?God? And God doesn't answer Moses with a compliment. He didn't say, hey, Moses, you got this. That's not what he said. He answers Moses with a promise.See, Moses asked for God to give him an identity. But God answers in something so much bigger. Presence. You ask God all the time, am I enough?I mean, I probably asked that to myself three times already this morning when I'm preparing for this show. That's the imposter syndrome that goes through my own head. Who am I to do this?Who am I to get in front of this camera and this microphone and tell people about faith? That's the questions that we're all asking. Am I enough? But God doesn't answer that way. God says, I'm not going to answer that question.Because guess what, Ralph, I'm with you. So let me ask you, what if who am I is actually the wrong question? Let's move on with scripture. Let's go to Exodus, chapter three, verses 13 to 15.Now, here it is again. Moses says to God, God. Suppose I go to the Israelites and say, the God of your fathers has sent me to you. And they ask me this. What is his name? God.Then what shall I tell them? And God answers with the best thing I. I think about this. And as a.As a human being, as a person that understands English, I go back and look at this. And God says to Moses, I am who I am. And he says to Moses, this is what you're to say, I am has sent me to you.Now, I added a little bit to scripture. Don't want to take away from that. But that's from Exodus 3, 13, and 14. So check it out. But it's an interesting answer. Right?See, and I want to give you a little context here, because in the ancient world, names signaled authority. That's why Moses was asking this question, who is it that's sending me? Because he knew that people will be asking him, in what name do you come?You've probably heard that. In what name do you come? But God reveals himself as self existent, not dependent, not threatened, not seasonal. So how do we apply that to our lives?You don't stand on your resume. Your resume is not going to do it for you. You stand on God's name.Your weakness doesn't cancel God's power and your past, because guess what, spoiler alert, we've all got a past. Your past doesn't limit his present. Think about this for a second. So many gurus say, oh, find that confidence in yourself.But what if your confidence isn't found in you at all, but it's found in who sent you? Boy, that flips the script, doesn't it? Let's move on to the next verse. Again, we're still in Exodus, chapter 4, verses 1 and then 10 to 12.So Moses answered, this is just a very honest answer to God. I mean, I just think about this. I just take a sidetrack here. For a second here, Moses is talking to God in a burning bush.All of us would have been like, I can't believe what's going on. But Moses had the forethought to question God. I'm like, again, I'm not sure I could have done that. So Moses answers, this is Exodus 4, 1, 10, 12.Moses answered, what if they do not believe me or listen to me? Continue on here. This is 4, 10 and 12. Moses said to the Lord, pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent. I am slow of speech and tongue.The Lord said to him who gave human beings their mouths. Talking about putting Moses on the back feet there. And then he says, now go. I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.Again, that's Exodus chapter 4, verses 10 and 12. So what is Moses feeling here? I really think Moses is fear and rejection. He's got God telling him, go do this. Here's who you say I am.But Moses still going, wait a minute dude, I'm not ready for this. He fears he's going to be exposed for an old man who's made mistakes. And then he's talking about his own limitations.He says, I'm not an eloquent speaker. I'm not good at this. Does it sound familiar to you? No, it sounds familiar to me. And the thing is, God doesn't shame Moses for trembling.And Moses listen, if I'm standing before God, I'm trembling too. I think you would be also. But God does something much better that he recenters Moses on sovereignty. He gets back to the truth.He says, I made the mouth. That's God pointed and he said, I made your mouth, dude. I can make this work. He says, I'll help you speak.And God's call at that very moment comes with God's help. See, he didn't just send Moses out and say, hey, go do this on your own, dude, you're on your own. No, he says, I'll be with you.I'll give you the words to say. So consider this. What if the place you feel weakest, those pieces that you feel exposed, is where God plans to show your strength.Now that'll flip it too, won't it? What if that's the case? What if it's where you feel the weakest? Just picture Moses here, not an eloquent speaker, not very self assured.But that's where God's going to show his strength. Now we're going to change it up a little bit. We're going to go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 12, verses 9 and 10. Want to change it up a little bit here?But it's important that you understand this. So this is Corinthians 12, 9, and 10. But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.For when I am weak, then I am strong again. That's 2 Corinthians 12, 9, 10. When you're having a rough day, this is one of those Bible verses I say, print out somewhere, keep it around you.Because he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you. He never said to you you're going to do it on your own. He never said you have the power. He never said you have the ability.He says, my grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in. I'm going to add a word in your weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong. And this is coming from Paul.Now, we've talked about Paul before. Paul carries a thorn. The Bible doesn't talk about what that thorn was.Could have been physical ailment, could have been a mental ailment, a spiritual ailment, but it was a weakness that Paul can't manage on his own. But the interesting thing is here, God wants to use Paul. But what does God do? He doesn't remove the thorn.A lot of people would say, well, God, why don't you just take the thorn away? And Paul could be what he wants you to be. No, he redeems it. So what do we take away from that? God doesn't always erase our weaknesses.A lot of people pray about that, Lord, I got this weakness. Just erase it. God doesn't always do that. A lot of times he uses it like a window so that people see him in you. So think about this for a moment.What if your weakness isn't your shame, but it's actually your assignment? When I was preparing for it today and I put that talk in there, I put that in there.I said, what if your weakness isn't your shame, but your assignment? Maybe that's what God's going to use you for. You're like, wait a minute, Ralph. This is where I'm weak. This is where I'm not strong.And now you're saying to me that God's putting me in that assignment. Yes, I truly believe that's the case. Because when you're there, it's not about you anymore. It's about God. So let's make this real practical.Let me say something right now. That unworthy feeling isn't just a Thought I wish it was just that. But it's a weight.It's a weight that sits on your chest and it tightens your throat and it just steals the words coming out of your mouth.And most of the time, for many of us, it shows up right when you're about to be brave, right when you're about to obey, right when you're about to step forward. It shows up when you try to pray, when you're just praying. But then it shows up. It shows up when you're trying to lead.It shows up when you try to love somebody. You try to love them well. And it shows up when you try to start again. And it whispers that same old tired line. Who do you think you are?Who do you think you are? Let me ask you, have you ever been most afraid right before your breakthrough? Here's what I want you to see. This is not new. This is not rare.And it's not just your personality. It's not just your anxiety. It's a spiritual attack on your willingness to say yes. Because here's the thing.If the enemy can keep you feeling disqualified. If the enemy can keep you questioning yourself, keep asking yourself, who am I? He can keep you delayed. He can keep you silent.He can keep you hiding in the back. But God brought you here today to hear a much different voice. Today's not about try harder. It's not about be better. It's not about prove yourself.God's voice is so much simpler than that. God's voice is stronger than that. And dare I say, God's voice is kinder than that. He doesn't ask us anything. He just says this.He tells us, I will be with you. I will be with you. So now let's walk through those five questions, not as a Bible lesson, but really as a rescue.Question number one, we gotta start here. Who am I? See, that's the question you ask when your past is still loud. There's a lot of things in my past that I'm not proud of.Dare I say, there's probably a lot of things in your past that you're not proud of. And when your mistakes still feel fresh, when your worst day still feels like that's your name. That who am I?See, that's what you say when you remember the thing you did or maybe the thing you didn't do and you just can't forgive yourself. Who am I? Is what you say when you tried once and it fell apart. And I could do a laundry list of things that I tried once and it Fell apart.And I say to myself, who am I? So we come to this decision. We decide I'm not the kind of person that gets a second chance. I don't deserve a second chance.I tried the once, Lord, and it didn't work. And, friend, Moses asked the same thing, and God didn't answer him with a resume. He didn't say, well, Moses, you did this and you did that.That's not what he said. God didn't say, moses, you were trained in Egypt. He didn't say, moses, you're smart. He didn't say, moses, you've got leadership ability.If he had said those things, he probably would have puffed up Moses right away. No, he didn't say any of those things. God answered him with, presence, I will be with you.See, what if the thing that qualifies you is not your ability, but God's presence? Because if God is with you, you're never alone. And if God is with you, your weakness is not the end.And if God is with you, your story's not finished. Here's the second question we've got to really dig into. Who are you? See, this is the question beneath the question.A lot of times when I'm trying to figure something out, it seems like I'm answering the first question. But that's not really the question, is it? Because sometimes you're not asking, who am I? What you're really asking.And I think Moses was asking us, can I trust you? Are you really good? Are you really close? Are you really steady? Because you've been disappointed before, haven't you?You've been let down by the people you love. You've been rejected by the people that you thought were your people. Does that sound familiar to you?And you're afraid that God will feel like everybody else. You almost think, I've seen this movie before. God, it didn't end well for me the first time. Why can't I trust you now?So Moses asked God, which is a very unusual question. But again, historically, context, it makes sense. He says to him, what is your name? God comes back and says, I am.I remember as a young kid reading that through the Bible the first time, thinking, what in the world is he talking about, I am? Interesting answer. It certainly wasn't what Moses was expecting. It wasn't. I was, or I might be. Not I'll be.When you behave, God simply says to Moses, I am. I am present. I am steady. I am unshaken. I am unmoved. Friend. When everything in culture shifts, God stays.When you feel strong one day and weak the next. God stays. When your emotions lie to you, your emotions will lie to you. God stays.What if your peace is not found in certainty but in the steadiness of the simple I am. Here's another question we've got to confront. Moses asked this question too. What if they don't believe me?What if they don't believe me and this one hurts? This is rejection square up. And nobody likes rejection.I remember as a young kid, I was at a school dance, I was probably about 12 years old and I got my muster up. First dance I ever went to as a middle schooler, I guess a junior high schooler.And this girl I've been looking at, I've been keeping an eye on her in class. And it was the school dance, it was almost the end of the night. It was that one last slow dance and I was sweating, man, my palms were sweaty.And I wander up to her. I don't even know what I said to her. I said, hey, would you like to dance? And in that very moment I'm asking, who am I to ask this girl?But she's beautiful. She's not going to be interested in this old fat kid. And I question myself, can I handle this rejection? And I'll never forget the moment.Now this was a. It's funny, girls grow a lot quicker than boys.Especially that is this girl was towering over me and she grabs a hold of me, pulls her in close and says, absolutely. Well, I was fearing that rejection. So all of us do that. It's that fear that you're going to be misunderstood. It's that fear that you look foolish.I thought that fear, I'm going to go up to this girl and say, would you like to dance? She's like, who are you to ask me? Or maybe the fear that you're going to be mocked. Everybody else looking around like, look what Raph did.He went up and asked a girl for a dance. I was so worried about that. Or that fear you'll finally open up and the person you hope would care doesn't care.See, this is the question you asked after you already been dismissed, after you've already been ignored, after you've already been talked over. And so you tell yourself, why should I try again? Why should I even bother? And friend, God doesn't shame Moses here.He doesn't say to Moses, oh Moses, stop being so sensitive. God meets that fear with confirmation. God gives Moses signs not to entertain him, but to strengthen him. Because here's the principle.God will not ask you to carry a calling alone. If you have a calling that's not being supported by God. Dare I say that maybe it's not a calling, but God's going to confirm it.God's going to sustain it, and God is going to back it. Now listen closely because you can lose your eyes on this one. You don't need everyone to believe in you.Sometimes you may be doing things that are completely different in culture. Dare I say, probably are doing things completely different in culture. You just need God to be faithful to his word. That obedience is your job.Being obedient to what God is calling you to do, that's your job. The hard part is the outcomes. That's God's job. So ask yourself this.What if you've been waiting for approval when God has been offering presents all along? Let's get right to question number four. Another one that we got to lean into. I'm not good at this.See, that's the next question you say to yourself, I'm not good at this. This is the one you whisper when you compare your gift to someone else's gift. Yep. That comparison gap strikes again.And I think this is what Moses did. You might do the same thing. When you watch someone speak. Well, you look at your pastor, you look at somebody traveling evangelist.Oh, man, that person can. That person can speak. I think of the Billy Grahams of the world, the Franklin Grahams. You're like, oh man, I would never be able to do that.Or you watch somebody lead. Well, you see somebody lead a small group or lead a congregation, and you're like, oh man, I can never do that.Or maybe just in your wheel, it's just a parent. You see somebody parent, well, and those parents got it figured out. I can never do that.Here's one that might hit close to home for some people in Sunday morning worship. Maybe you see that person that sings. Well, I've never been a great singer. I can never do that.Or maybe teach well, you see, that person is so gifted in teaching. And I, I just want to say for a second, teachers are amazing people. I, I don't have that gift.But then all of a sudden you feel like the discount version, dare I say the dollar store version. And so you say, God, guess what? You picked the wrong dude here. You picked the wrong person. God, why did you call me for this?You know, I'm not eloquent at speech. I'm not a good singer, I'm not a good leader. I'm not a good teacher. And God just says, Wait a second. He says something stunning.He says, who gave human beings their mouths? He takes ownership. Friend, God is not surprised by your limitations. He designed you. He formed you. He knows your frame. He knows your limitations.He knows the things that you're not great at. And guess what? He still called you. And then God reaffirms. He says, I will help you speak. See, that just means this.God doesn't require you to be impressive. If you think you need to be impressive to be in these positions, that's not at all. God just wants you to be available. Just be available.He's going to give you the words. He's going to give you the ability to do it. That's what he did for Moses.So what if God's plan was never your perfection, but your dependence on him in the first place? Let's get on to question number five. And I can just feel Moses saying this. Please send someone else. Maybe you feel a calling on your life right now.You're saying, oh, what? Yeah, I hear you, God. But, man, send somebody else. Such an honest bottom line, isn't it?And that's where you stop being logical and you start being real. I can think of so many times when I was thinking about launching this show, I worked through this my own self. Logically, I can do this.I can figure out how to talk. I can research scripture. But I'm like, wait a minute, God, you know, why me? Send somebody else. There's a lot of people can do that.And you say things to yourself like, God, I'm tired. I got a lot going on. God, I can't handle something else. I got this and that and the other thing. I just don't have time for that.Or maybe, like me, you just honestly say, God, I'm scared. I'm afraid I'll be seen as a fraud. I'm just an accountant, man. I'm not a theologian. I'm not one of those eloquent speakers.Maybe for you it's, God, I don't want the cost. I see that, too. Doing a Christian show, I have a business that doesn't always have people who are Christians in it. And it's cost me.And I had to say God. You know, sometimes I say, God, I don't want this cost. Or maybe you just say, God, I don't want the exposure.Our YouTube channel right now for this particular show, Truth Unveiled with Ralph, is close to 250,000 subscribers. And I don't say that to be bold or arrogant or boast.But listen, I'm Going to be honest with you, there are times that I'm like, God, you, dude, I'm an accountant. You get it, right? I don't know what to do with this exposure.See, that's the question you ask when you can see the pain on the other side of that, obedience. Because, yes, obedience is beautiful, but obedience can also be expensive. Cost you in ways you never would have expected. And Moses said it out loud.He says, please send someone else. Just says, right to God. Send somebody else. God. This is not for me. And here's what I love about God. God doesn't throw Moses away.He doesn't cancel Moses, a fancy term for what goes on today. He doesn't cancel Moses. And God doesn't shame Moses into silence in that very moment. God stays.See, even when God is firm and he's being firm here to Moses, he could have picked somebody else. But God is firm and God is faithful. See, God's call is not based on your confidence level today.When I started this show, I was not confident about this at all. And to be very candid with you, I'm not confident about it right now. But God's call is not based on my confidence level today. Because guess what?We'd all be in trouble if it was. It's based on that. I'm going to use that term I used earlier, his covenant love for us.Because he knew you were going to fear before you were even born. He knew your story before you made your mistakes. And he knew the weaknesses before you were even able to name them. And guess what?He still called you knowing all those things. The weaknesses, the scars, the battle scars. See, what if God is not asking you to feel ready, but to trust him anyway?See, here's the heart of it all. Let me stitch this to your heart with three emotional truths. I called this show Truth Unveiled. Because my goal every week is to give you truth.Here's the first truth. Feeling unworthy is not a disqualifier. It's often the doorway to surrender in the first place. Because proud people don't ask the question, who am I?You ever met somebody super proud, super arrogant? You'll never hear them say, who am I? Well, I'm the person that can do it. But who asked that question, who am I? Humble people do.How about people like you and me? So feeling unworthy is not a disqualified. Here's truth number two. God's presence is the qualification.Not your resume, not your track record, not your followers. Just God's presence in that moment is the qualification. Here's Truth number three. Your yes can be small, but it's gotta be real.It can be one step, just one call, one confession, one apology, just one faithful act. And it's not done to earn God's love. There's a lot of religious people say, well, I gotta do this to earn God's love. I don't believe that.You already have God's love. You got that from the beginning. So what if the next faithful step is the holiest thing you do this very week? What if that's what it is?See, because, friend, the enemy wants you stuck in the question the enemy wants you stuck in asking yourself, who am I? Who are you? Send somebody else. But God wants you anchored in the promise. That promise of I will be with you. And if God is with you, you can move.If God is with you, you can try again. If God is with you, you can serve again. You can pray again. And if God is with you, you can lead again.Not because you've all of a sudden become fearless, but because you're not alone. And that's what makes the calling possible. Think right now. I don't want you to just take a second, think about this. Have you delayed what? Yes.Are you delaying right now because you wanted to feel ready first? Well, let's get practical now. How do you move past these three questions? Because it's one thing to understand the biblical side.It's one thing to understand the questions and the truth. But how do we get past this? I want to give you a framework.Not some cute acronym, not a poster slogan, just five simple moves that you can practice in real life. When Unworthy shows up because there's one thing it's certain. It's going to show up. And it's going to show up at the worst time.It's going to show up in the doorway. It's going to show up in the car, on the couch, right before you are thinking about obeying. So here's the model. Five moves, one at a time.Move number one. Name the moment. Don't spiritualize it away. Don't pretend you're fine. Just name what's happening. Say it out loud.Say things like, unworthiness is here, fear is here. Shame is here. Because when you name it, you stop merging with it. It's not you, it's something hitting you. Let's get real practical.Let's say you're sitting in a church parking lot and you can't walk in because you feel like a hypocrite. Name it. Just name it. This is Shame talking. This is fear talking out loud. Or maybe you're about to hit publish.Maybe you're a content creator or you're somebody that likes to put stuff out there and your stomach just flips. Name it. Name it. This is the old voice. This is the old who do you think you are? Voice. Because what if naming it is actually the first act of freedom?Here's move number two. Find the lie under the feeling Unworthiness always has a script. Always. It's rarely just, oh, I feel bad today.It's usually a sentence you believe for years. So ask yourself, what is the sentence? How many of these can you relate with common scripts? Like, I always mess it up. And I've tried before, man.I just always mess that up. Every time I try, it doesn't work. I hear that in finance talk all the time. I'm not good with money, Ralph. I always mess it up. Maybe you say this one.I'm not the real deal. I've seen other people. They're the real deal. That is not me. Or maybe this one. If they knew me, they'd leave.If they really knew me, man, they wouldn't be here. Or God is tired of me. I felt that one. At times I feel like I asked for God for forgiveness more times than he's allowed to give me.Or maybe this one, I'm just too far gone. I've gone too far this time I can't get back. Maybe you made a budget again and you blew it.And that lie says you're irresponsible, you're never going to change, you're never going to live by that budget. Or maybe you're trying to lead your home spiritually. Man, this one hits home for me. But you had a blow up yesterday.Push to the end of your limits, and the lie says to you in that moment, you can't leave because you're not perfect, friend. That's not conviction, that's accusation. Because conviction says, come on back. Come on back. Let's try this again. Accusation says, stay away.So ask yourself if that voice is calling you closer or pushing you away. Here's move number three. Answer with one promise. This isn't a place to learn 10 verses, not some eloquent lecture.Just one promise, just one truth, one anchor line. Because when you're spiraling, you don't need a library. You don't need a book of all these great verses.They're great verses, sure, but you need a lifeline. Here's a few lifelines that I use in my own life. I've got these written down. I will be with you.How many times a day I think back to that line, I will be with you. Or this line. There is no condemnation. There is no condemnation. I love this one. My grace is sufficient, man.When I'm feeling low, man, that one just that grabs a hold of me and says, my grace is sufficient. And when I'm really feeling tired and like I can't do anything else, I remember this one. Come to me and I will give you rest.Just think about the last time you're walking into a meeting and your boss has questions for you and you're afraid you're going to sound dumb. I've been there many times. Just whisper it to yourself, God is with me. God is with me. Or maybe you're about to call your adult child.I had somebody in my office yesterday, had to go through this. They got to deal with some issues with their adult child. There's tension and they just want to avoid it.Just whisper to yourself at that moment, God is with me. God is with me. Or maybe you're about to go to church and you failed all week long. Like, who am I to come to church, man? I'm a sinner.I made so many mistakes this week. Just whisper it. No condemnation in Christ. See, that's not pretending, that's fighting. Because what if the promise is more real than the panic?Here's the next step. Take that next faithful step. You don't have to have the whole plan, not some 10 year roadmap because you won't do it, just that next step.Because God rarely gives you a staircase, you know, you don't have this staircase that pops up in front of you. What does he usually give us? One step, because he knows us.God knows we aren't going to be able to handle the staircase, but we can maybe handle one step if he carries us. So ask yourself this, what's one faithful step that I can take in the next 10 minutes? I'm going to get real practical from an accounting perspective.If you're overwhelmed by money, so many people are living in this reality, they're overwhelmed by money. The next step is not. I'm going to fix my whole life. I'm going to fix it all.I'm going to get a budget, I'm going to pay off my debts, I'm going to spend. Right? I'm going to be a good steward. Wrong answer.The next step could be something as simple as open up that bank app, look at your balance, write the bills due and pick One bill to call about. It could really be that simple. Or maybe let's get real practical. Maybe you're overwhelmed by your marriage. It's broken.There's issues, there's communication problems. I have no idea what's going on in your marriage. But the next step is not let's go solve everything. Your next step is send one humble text.Man, I've done this so many times. Maybe that's. I'm sorry for my tone. Just a simple text and stop there. Maybe it's, can we talk tonight?And if right now you're feeling unworthy to serve. The next step is not look for sainthood. It's not time to become a saint. Your next step is show up anyway. Take that chair, make that coffee.Pray quietly and just be present. Because what I have seen is faithfulness is rarely loud. It's often small. It's often hidden. It just needs to be repeated.Because what if the step you've been refusing because it's so small would really matter? Because it feels too small. But it does matter. And then I want you to do this. Get an Aaron in your life.Now you're probably thinking, Ralph, who is Aaron? Aaron was with Moses. Moses didn't go alone in this. God gave him help. See, friends, some breakthroughs don't happen because you need more information.They happen because you're isolated. You try to do it alone. And you don't need a crowd. Sometimes you just need one safe person, one Aaron. I'll encourage you.Go read about Aaron in the Bible. But maybe you need that Aaron in your life. Someone who can remind you what God said when you can't hear it.Maybe right now you're struggling with pornography. Or maybe you've got a secret debt you've held from your loved ones. Or maybe you've got a drinking problem. You're just living in shame.You don't need more hiding. You need just one confession, one phone call, one honest sentence with somebody that you can trust.Aaron, maybe you're trying to rebuild your finances. I talk about this on my daily show, Financially Confident Christian. We'll put a link in the show notes if you want to check that out.But real practical, you're trying to rebuild your finances. You need accountability. If you need that coach, that trusted friend, a weekly check in. Maybe you're trying to lead spiritually at home.You need brothers to support you in that need prayer. You need a small circle that tells the truth in love. Because so many of us live in isolation.And when we live in isolation, shame grows there but community is where shame actually goes to die. So let me ask you this. Who's your Aaron? When your courage collapses? So here it is. Five moves, no acronym, just real life. Name the moment.Find the lie. Answer with one promise. Take one faithful step and get one safe person and friend. Do it again tomorrow.Because courage is not a personality, it's a practice. And God doesn't demand perfection. He invites surrender. What does he say? I'll be with you. See, that's the foundation.And that promise right there will hold you up while you learn how to walk. I think of when my my youngest was starting to walk. His first steps weren't his own steps. His mom and I held him. That's what God will do for you.What if your next step is small but holy? Well, now, let's live this out. Let's live this out at home, at church, at work, and on your phone. In thought life, if you're at home.Here's one thing I'm going to encourage you to do. Speak a new sentence in your house. Just say this one. Love is not earned here. Grace lives here.I was in somebody's house not too long ago and they had it on the wall behind them, right above the door, the kitchen. Grace lives here. I thought, man, boy, that sets the tone for a family, doesn't it? Not earning love.But grace lives here and practice presence over perfection. We find ourselves trying to get to perfection all the time. Maybe for you it's dinner without the phone. Maybe it's a walk. Eye contact with somebody.Just one question asked slowly. Talk about that morning habit. Maybe you start one sentence before anything else and just say, God is with me today.Before your feet even hit the ground, you say to yourself, God is with me today. Because what if your family doesn't need perfection, they just need some peace. Well, let's get practical and talk about things at work.Stop apologizing for existing. Replace that sorry with thank you. Do that next faithful task at work. Not 50, just one. And ask yourself the discernment question.Is this conviction or accusation? Because remember we talked about conviction leads to life, conviction leads to growth. But accusation leads to hiding.And if you're a church, serve from a place of love, not approval of others. If you serve to be seen, guess what's going to happen? You're going to burn out. And find that Aaron in church.A partner, a mentor, a friend who strengthens you. And then share with that person just one honest layer, not your whole biography, just one real sentence. How relationships are built.One real confession because shame dies in the light. And just ask yourself, who gets free when you stop pretending? Now we're going to get real, real, real in degree here on your phone.Because this is where the battle's so loud for something. Get rid of those comparison triggers. If you're looking at accounts or apps or feeds that are making you feel this way, stop doing them.Build up truth buffer. Pray when you're hearing that noise. Build some family guardrails in your own family.Just some simple rhythm, some gentle limits and some protected spaces. You got to build a home that's a refuge from those algorithms. So I hope that was some real practical advice for you.But now I want to speak gently but clearly about something else. Some of what you're calling unworthy is actually unfinished surrender. And sometimes it's a lot deeper than that.It's that weight of sin, that weight of separation from God. And here is the gospel. Jesus is not waiting for you to become worthy. If he did, we'd all be in trouble. He makes you new. Look at what Romans 8:1 says.Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Notice what it says. Not less condemnation, no condemnation. And Scripture says salvation is grace. Not your performance, not your Polish grace.So if right now you want to come home, or maybe you've been back and you just want to come back, I want to pray a prayer of salvation with you now. I just pray this right with me, right where you are. Just say this out loud. Jesus, I confess that I've sinned. And I've tried to be my own God.I've tried to carry my own shame alone, Lord. And I truly believe right at this moment that you died for me. And I believe you rose again. And I believe you are Lord, forgive me.Wash me clean, make me new. I surrender my life to you. I receive your grace. I receive your love. And I choose to follow you right now for the rest of my days.And I ask this in Jesus name, Amen. Friend, listen to me right now. This is not small what you just did. This is not a moment. This is a miracle.If you just prayed that and you really meant it, Heaven is not bored. Heaven rejoices. I truly believe there's celebrations in heaven for one more person that's accepted Christ.Because you didn't just try religion at that moment. You came home. You didn't just add God to your schedule. You surrendered your life to the living Jesus. And I want you to hear this clearly.You're not cleaning yourself up to earn his love. You're receiving his love so you can be made new. Because you are forgiven. You are adopted. You're not condemned anymore, and you're not disqualified.Those old labels that you've worn for years, maybe more than that. Don't get the final word. Jesus gets the final word. Do you realize what just happened? You were dead, in sin, and God made you alive.You were running, and God welcomed you. You were carrying shame, and Jesus took it. See, friend, that's what grace feels like.So let me suggest three simple steps right now as you move forward, not with pressure, but with clarity. Because here's the problem. The enemy knows what just happened. He's going to try to steal this moment. Even after you've been saved.He's going to whisper, oh, that didn't count. You are going to fail again. And God's going to regret choosing you. You're going to hear those things. But that voice is a liar.So here's what you do in your next steps. Number one thing, tell Jesus out loud today. Tell somebody. It doesn't have to be a long speech. Just say to God, jesus, I'm yours. Jesus, lead me.Jesus, teach me. Say it in your car. Say it in your kitchen. Say it before bed. Because that's how you build that real relationship.Because what if the strongest faith starts with simple daily talking to yourself? And I want you to just get rooted in one small rhythm. Don't try to do everything. Just start with one anchor for the next seven days.Here's my challenge for you. Read one gospel chapter a day. I really like the Book of John, but you can do Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. If you don't have a Bible, reach out to us.We'll get you one. Or start here. Read John 15 slowly. I love this one. It says divine in the branches. And pray one sentence after Jesus, make me close.See, faith grows like a plant, steady, daily and watered. And I'm going to encourage you to this. Get a person and get a place. Find that one safe believer, whether that be a pastor or a friend or a mentor.And find that place a church family. Listen, if you're expecting perfection, you're not going to find it. But find a B2B present. Because Christianity is not a solo sport.God saves you into a family. And you do need people to remind you who you are when your feelings wobble. Don't do this alone. And here's what I want to give you.I don't want you to just feel inspired. I want you supported, I want you strengthened, and I want you surrounded. So Right now I want to invite you to our Truth Unveiled community.Go to truthunveiledwithRalph.com/join. I'll put that in the show notes, but I'm going to give it to you again. It's truthunveiledwithRalph.com/join.And when you do join, you're going to get a free resource that we call the Family Digital Wisdom Guide. Because your new life in Christ needs new inputs. It needs new rhythms, new boundaries and new truth.And we're going to help you build a home that protects peace and helps you grow your faith. Because friend, I'm celebrating with you. This is the beginning, this is not an end. Jesus is not done with you. He's just getting started.So let me land this in your heart. Unworthiness that we talked about today is a liar. It speaks in your voice, but it does not speak God's truth to you. God doesn't call the flawless.He calls the willing. He strengthens the weak and he meets the honest. That burning bush teaches you this. Yes, the fire is real, the calling is real.And you won't be consumed because the same God who calls you stays with you. So what if your breakthrough starts at one small yes today? How about we pray together? Father God, I come to you honest.I confess the weight I've been carrying, the fear of not being enough, the fear of being found out, the fear of disappointing people. And Lord Jesus, you see the whole story. You see my past, you see my weaknesses, you see what I can't fix.And yet you still call me so today, Lord, I surrender. Not because I feel ready, because Lord, I don't. But because you're faithful.And I release that comparison, Lord, I release that perfection and I release that self salvation. Holy Spirit, I just ask that you would put courage in my bones, put truth in my mouth and put peace in my heart.And just give me one next step, just one obedient step, just one faithful step. Because I choose to say yes. Because you are with me. And I ask this in Jesus name. Amen friend. Here's the takeaway. God's presence, not your perfection.That's what qualifies your calling. So may the Holy Spirit silence the voice of not enough in your life.It fill your heart with Jesus steady love and give you courage for the next faithful step. And I encourage you again.Come join us at truth unveiledwitRalph.com grab that free family wisdom guide and let's walk this home together in grace, in truth and in peace. May God bless you and I'll see you again next week.