I have this dream sometimes. I’m guessing yours is different but maybe you’ve had one like it.
I’m visiting a church as a guest, sitting comfortably in the back, when the unexpected happens—the teaching pastor gets sick. Panic spreads among the leadership as they scramble to find a solution. Then, their eyes land on me. Wait, he’s a pastor, right? They ask me to step up and preach on the spot. No prep. No notes. Just me, a microphone, and an entire congregation staring, waiting.
And that’s when it happens. I’m exposed. An imposter. A guy with nothing to say.
Of course, I always wake up before it gets too bad. But these kinds of dreams—where we’re put on the spot and revealed as not enough—are surprisingly common for people. Some of you dream about showing up to work in your pajamas, realizing you never finished that project, or walking into a final exam for a class you forgot you were enrolled in. For others, it’s a sports game where you suddenly forget how to play or a performance where you forget all your lines.
Beneath these dreams lurks a question we’re all a little afraid to ask: What if I’m not really who I say I am? What if I’ve been faking it this whole time?
This fear isn’t just about our jobs or talents—it cuts deeper. It whispers that maybe we’re not a good enough parent, not strong enough in our faith, not really loved if people knew the whole story. It’s the fear that if we were fully seen, we’d be rejected.
But here’s the truth: God already fully sees you, and He’s not looking for an excuse to turn away.
While we worry about being found out, God has already spoken over us: "I have summoned you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)
God isn’t waiting for us to prove ourselves. He’s not asking for a flawless performance. He calls us His, not because we earned it, but because He delights in us.
So maybe you’ll have that dream again. Maybe you’ll wake up in a panic. But let it remind you: your worth was never in your ability to perform. It’s in the One who knows you fully and still calls you His own.
And if you ever do get asked to preach on the spot—just go with “Jesus loves you.” That’s always a solid start.
peace,
Nick
I’m visiting a church as a guest, sitting comfortably in the back, when the unexpected happens—the teaching pastor gets sick. Panic spreads among the leadership as they scramble to find a solution. Then, their eyes land on me. Wait, he’s a pastor, right? They ask me to step up and preach on the spot. No prep. No notes. Just me, a microphone, and an entire congregation staring, waiting.
And that’s when it happens. I’m exposed. An imposter. A guy with nothing to say.
Of course, I always wake up before it gets too bad. But these kinds of dreams—where we’re put on the spot and revealed as not enough—are surprisingly common for people. Some of you dream about showing up to work in your pajamas, realizing you never finished that project, or walking into a final exam for a class you forgot you were enrolled in. For others, it’s a sports game where you suddenly forget how to play or a performance where you forget all your lines.
Beneath these dreams lurks a question we’re all a little afraid to ask: What if I’m not really who I say I am? What if I’ve been faking it this whole time?
This fear isn’t just about our jobs or talents—it cuts deeper. It whispers that maybe we’re not a good enough parent, not strong enough in our faith, not really loved if people knew the whole story. It’s the fear that if we were fully seen, we’d be rejected.
But here’s the truth: God already fully sees you, and He’s not looking for an excuse to turn away.
While we worry about being found out, God has already spoken over us: "I have summoned you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)
God isn’t waiting for us to prove ourselves. He’s not asking for a flawless performance. He calls us His, not because we earned it, but because He delights in us.
So maybe you’ll have that dream again. Maybe you’ll wake up in a panic. But let it remind you: your worth was never in your ability to perform. It’s in the One who knows you fully and still calls you His own.
And if you ever do get asked to preach on the spot—just go with “Jesus loves you.” That’s always a solid start.
peace,
Nick