“Who am I?” It’s a question every person asks themselves at one point or another. We’re told to “Find yourself” or “Just be yourself!” But that’s difficult when you don’t know who you are. And if you don’t accept who God says you are, you are going to fall for who the world says you are. In this episode, we uncover the truth about our identity in Christ and how rooting our identity in Christ leads to stability, while attaching our identity to earthly things leads to instability and uncertainty.
When I was starting out my journey, I didn’t know what I was looking for. In fact, I used to play this song on repeat that kind of became my anthem in those days called “Show Me What I’m Looking For” by Carolina Liars. That song pretty much summed up how I was feeling: Lost, confused, but also knowing there had to be more. I just wasn’t sure exactly what that was.
I had zero confidence. I lacked identity and purpose. I used to actually google how to gain confidence. Or I’d even search for tutorials on basic social skills because I just always felt so anxious and awkward in all that I did. And, over and over again, I’d get the same answer: “Just be yourself!”
Oh my goodness… that phrase, “Just be yourself!” used to drive me nuts! I used to shout at the screen, “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!” Because, truly, I didn’t know who I was.
I am going to tell you right now that if you don’t know who you are, someone else will decide for you, and the voices of darkness are loud and persistent. So for years and years, I had this totally skewed idea of who I was. I identified with the people I hung out with. With the activities we participated in. Often, we tie our identity to our social status or our career.
But then, what happens when you lose your social status, or you lose your career? Then you also lose your identity. That’s a pretty scary thing! We see this all the time in our society here in the US, at least, with Empty Nest Syndrome. It’s when a parent–usually a mom–has her identity so wrapped up with her children that her identity is “Mom” that when her kids grow up and move out, she doesn’t know who she is anymore because what gave her identity isn’t there anymore.
This is such a big problem, especially in our American culture, where we so closely identify with what we do and what we have that when we lose that, we lose ourselves, and we lose our sense of identity, and that flips our psyche into crisis mode. When you are experiencing a crisis, you’re not yourself. You are not thinking clearly. You wrestle with feelings of fear and anxiety. Everything feels uncertain and shaky. You feel tired all the time and have trouble making decisions. Does this sound familiar? Changes in our circumstances that we are unsure of how to deal with can drive us into crisis mode.
This world, and the people in this world, will always let you down. When you put your faith, trust, and identity in other people, they can fail you and let you down. When you attach your identity to things that can be lost or taken away, you risk losing your identity. See, people, places, and things aren’t stable–they can change. They can let you down. You can lose them. But guess who doesn’t change? Who will never let you down? Who will never leave or forsake you? Yahweh, the one true living God.
Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” This is reiterated in Hebrews 13:5. A couple verses later in Hebrews 13:8 it states that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
See, when we live out of alignment with who God created us to be, we feel miserable.
When we don’t trust God and His plan and His sovereignty, we fall into the trap of anxiety.
That was me: anxious and trying to figure out who I was and what was my purpose in life. What was I supposed to be doing? What was the point? I was constantly striving. Constantly trying to maintain this persona I had created, shaped by the world around me, who wasn’t really me at all! In fact, I had strayed so far off that path God had for me and was so lost, living in this false identity that when I found my identity in Christ, no one recognized me. I was a completely different person. I went from saying I was an introvert to discovering I’m an extrovert. From fearing people to loving them. From hiding and being shy with zero self-confidence to walking in the confidence of the God I trust to direct my steps and give me the words and the wisdom for each and every situation and interaction.
Also, we have a choice to embrace the identity God has for us or to accept the identity the world gives us. Take a look at Peter. Jesus changed his identity. He was born Simon, a fisherman. And Jesus changed his name to Peter and called him a fisher of men. Upon this rock, God would build his church. The thing is, Simon Peter wasn’t very rock-like when Jesus gave him this title. He had a tendency to rush into things, blurt out whatever came to mind, make rash decisions (like when he cut off that man’s ear), and even denied Jesus three times on the night he was arrested.
You see, Jesus didn’t give Peter the title to reflect who he already was. He spoke into who Peter would become. Will you accept who God has called you to be, even if it’s wildly different than who you are right now? When you receive that and let Him transform you, you become the very best version of yourself and step into the identity God has called you to.
So, what is your identity in Christ? What does the bible say about our identity?
I’m going to list some affirmations and the Bible verses they’re from. I want you to repeat these affirmations after me. It is so important to speak life over yourself. Stop repeating the lies the enemy tells you. If you keep saying things like, “I’m not good enough,” then you’ve just put a curse on yourself so you won’t be good enough. But you are, and you need to declare it. Say, “I am more than enough.” Undo the curse by speaking blessings over your life.
Affirmations
Write down these affirmations. Post them all over your walls, on your bathroom mirror–wherever–so when you’re feeling lost or down on yourself, take that thought captive and speak life over yourself.
Get in the Word and seek God. Seek the truth, and you will find it. And when you know who God is, He reveals who you truly are and who you were always meant to be.
God is in control.
- Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.
I am made in the image of God.
- Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
I was created on purpose, for a purpose.
- Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Psalm 139:13: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb
God has big plans for my life
- Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I am a child of God!
- John 1:12: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
- 1 John 3:1: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
- Romans 8:14: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
- Romans 8:16: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
- Galatians 3:26: So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
I am chosen
- Ephesians 1:4: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight
Closing Prayer
Father God, I just want to thank you for being such a kind and loving God who delights in being our father and protector. Thank you for all the ways you care for and provide for us, giving us exactly what we need when we need it, for bestowing gracious gifts upon us so we may prosper in your kingdom and bear good fruit, Lord. And, Lord, I ask that you speak to the heart of each and every person listening right now. That you bless them and guide them into all understanding, helping them to see themselves the way you see them. Put in all of us a new heart so that we may see others the way that you see them and love others the way that you love them, abounding in love and grace and mercy. We love you and we thank you and pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.