Do you know who you are?
Identity.
Identity crisis.
Insecurity.
Who am I?
When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Words and thoughts and questions that plague our minds. Do you ever come across a really confident, not arrogant, person and wonder, “What’s their secret?”
For the past few years, God has had me in different parts of His Word that speak to our identity in Christ, probably because I needed it more than I could know. To be completely honest, though, it’s one of those lessons that I didn’t realize I needed to learn. I had always considered myself a fairly confident person, someone who really “knew who I was” kind of a girl.
Until I didn’t anymore.
These last 12+ months have been filled with questions and a struggle that I had never wrestled with before. When I’m not doing what I’ve always found so much of my purpose in, I battle with purposelessness. And therein lies the problem, that word “doing.” Somewhere along the way, I began to believe the lie that says, “Your activity determines your identity.” Whether that activity is past or present, it’s still a lie.
But, it sounds right, doesn’t it?
You are what you do. I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend. I have a job. I’m an athlete. I’m a teacher and a student. While these things are all good, they are things or roles that I do. They are not who I am. If you took any one of those things away, I’d still be Cherie.
So, what, or who determines who I am?
I am who God says I am.
I took a Bible study years ago that first introduced me to that statement of faith, and I’ve never been the same since. If I am who God says that I am, then…
I am not the mistakes and failures of my past.
I am not the condemning or shaming words said about me from others.
I am not a collection of my achievements.
I am not my doubt, discouragement, and fear.
I am not my anxiety and depression.
I am not my limitations.
I am not unworthy.
On the contrary, God informs me of my identity in His Word and through His works.
I am chosen. (Ephesians 1:4)
I am forgiven. (Colossians 1:14)
I am a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I am loved. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
I am free from condemnation. (Romans 8:1)
I am redeemed. (Galatians 3:13)
I am called by name. (Isaiah 43:1)
I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am an ambassador for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
This is my identity, and notice that none of it has anything to do with what I’ve done or can do. It all has everything to do with what Jesus has already done for me. He names me these things. He determines who I am. And He does the same for you, my friend.
Have you forgotten who you are? Your identity is found in Jesus Christ. Look no further. All other pursuits will leave you wanting. Jesus is everything. All is found in Him.
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