Tell Yourself the Truth First
By Cathie Ostapchuk
I remember the moment clearly. I was standing backstage before leading a session at a national women’s conference, feeling the familiar weight of imposter syndrome pressing in. The room was full, the lights were bright—but inside, I was battling self-doubt. My words were polished, my notes were organized, but my heart wasn’t aligned.
I had rehearsed the message for others, but I hadn’t fully spoken the truth to myself. Truth like: You are called. You are equipped. You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. God’s grace will meet you in your offering.
In that quiet moment, I whispered a prayer that changed me: “God, help me stop performing truth and start living it.”
And He did.
Before we speak truth to others, we must first speak it over ourselves. Before we can lead with clarity, we need inner alignment. Integrity as a leader starts with inner honesty.
Scripture tells us:
“You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart” (Psalm 51:6, NRSV).
As female leaders—especially in ministry or spaces where our presence is still questioned—we can be tempted to curate truth for others while neglecting the truth we need for ourselves. We become fluent in encouraging others while our own souls run dry. We champion courage for our teams but secretly shrink in our own calling.
If I can be vulnerable with you all, this is where I struggle most. But God calls us to live integrated lives—where our inner life aligns with our outer leadership. This kind of congruence is not about perfection; it’s about integrity. It's about naming the lies we’ve believed and replacing them with God’s truth.
When we tell ourselves the truth first—I am not behind. I am not forgotten. I am called for such a time as this—we lead from overflow, not emptiness.
When we start with truth, we show up whole. And when we show up whole, we give others permission to do the same.
So this week, pause and ask:
What truth have I been speaking over others that I need to believe for myself?
Where is there a gap between my inner world and my leadership presence?
What might shift if I aligned both with truth?
Here’s your encouragement:
God delights in your desire to lead well. He is not waiting for your perfection, but your honesty. Tell yourself the truth first—and you’ll find the strength, clarity, and courage to lead others into it too.
You were made to lead in truth. Start within. Lead from there.
I believe in you.