If you’re a younger Christian leader navigating this season of ministry, I want to speak directly to you. Over the last several years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching people just like you—passionate, faithful, thoughtful believers who want to follow Jesus and lead well. And again and again, I hear the same quiet confession surface:
“I’m not sure I’m really called to this.”

Sometimes you say it after a tough week. Sometimes it’s after a hard conversation or a season where the fruit just isn’t showing. Sometimes you don’t even say it out loud, but I see it in your eyes. You wonder if you’re cut out for this. You question if you heard God right. You carry the weight of responsibility—and then doubt piles on top.

That’s why I want to point you to a recent article at Reliant Creative called Ministry and Self-Doubt, written by Zach Leighton. Although not written specifically to millennial Christian leaders, it puts into words what so many of you are experiencing. Leighton writes, “The enemy wants to use self-doubt to immobilize us, while God can use those same feelings to deepen our dependence on Him.” You don’t need to feel confident to be called. You just need to obey.

That truth may be simple, but it’s also profound.

The Pressure You’re Carrying

Let’s talk about the pressure you feel. You’ve grown up in a ministry culture shaped by social media, constant comparison, and a fast-changing world. You’re told to be authentic, strategic, emotionally intelligent, theologically sound, and culturally savvy—all at the same time. That’s a heavy load.

You probably feel like you have to prove your calling, not just live it. Maybe you wonder if the work you’re doing is big enough, fast enough, visible enough. Maybe you see other leaders online and think, “Why does it seem so effortless for them?” Or “What am I doing wrong?”

Here’s the truth: you’re not doing anything wrong by wrestling with doubt. You’re human. You care. And the very fact that you’re asking hard questions is often a sign that you’re engaged, not disqualified.

Calling Isn’t Always Clear

One of the biggest lies you might be tempted to believe is that real calling should feel clear and confident. But calling in Scripture often looks messy. Think about Moses. He argued with God about his ability to lead. Jeremiah thought he was too young. Timothy likely struggled with timidity. You’re in good company.

The reality is, calling is usually discovered in motion. You step forward, unsure. You say yes to the next thing. You learn. You adjust. You depend on God more than you ever expected to. And that’s exactly how He grows you.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to be obedient. You just need to keep showing up with a willing heart.

Navigating the Doubt

As someone who’s coaching and walking with leaders like you, here’s what I want you to know: doubt is not a dead end. It’s often a doorway. A place where God peels back your expectations and reminds you that it’s His strength—not yours—that will carry the mission forward.

When doubt comes, don’t rush to silence it. Instead, ask deeper questions:

• What story am I believing about myself?
• Am I attaching my worth to outcomes?
• Where have I seen God’s faithfulness in the past?
• What does it mean to lead from weakness?
• Who am I actually trying to please?
• What does simple obedience look like today?

These questions won’t magically erase the uncertainty, but they can help reorient your heart back to truth.

You’re Not Failing—You’re Forming

If you’re in a season where calling feels cloudy, hear this: you’re not failing. You’re forming. God is shaping something deeper in you—character, humility, faithfulness—that doesn’t always look flashy but matters for the long haul.

You may feel like you’re not enough. That’s okay. You were never meant to do this in your own strength anyway. Leadership isn’t about being the most confident person in the room—it’s about being the most dependent on Christ.

So, give yourself permission to struggle. Give yourself grace for the journey. And keep trusting that even when you feel uncertain, God is still writing your story.

Final Encouragement

You don’t need a massive platform to be effective. You don’t need crystal-clear clarity to walk in your calling. You just need to keep saying yes to Jesus—especially when it’s hard.

So, to you—millennial Christian leader, builder, pastor, mentor, creative, teacher, dreamer—keep going. Your obedience matters. Your presence matters. And your calling is still real, even when your confidence isn’t.