Identity Crisis

We are born with an inherent desire to "find ourselves." From birth we are constantly trying to find our place in the world and find out who we even are. Through adolescence we are willing to do almost anything to latch onto an identity with friends, family, school, whoever will let us in. In college we've basically got who we are figured out and were starting to figure out what to do with that. As we get older we come to grips with that identity; good or bad and ride it out until the end.

But what if were wrong...

What if the identity that we've put on ourselves is not who we truly are at all...

What if somewhere along the way we've allowed other voices or even our sin and struggles to mark us...

I am worthless.

I am a sinner.

I am not loved.

I am a cheater.

I am an addict.

I hurt people.

I can't be trusted.

Is that really who you are? What a sad existence... completely bound to a negative view that can totally control your decisions and emotions. I mentioned all negative examples, but finding your identity in positive things can hurt just as much. If your identity is entirely found in being a teacher, artist, writer, student etc. you become bound to a performance mentality. You find yourself lacking wholeness unless you're doing that thing... and doing perfectly at it.

What if we all could realize that who we are is not at all dependent on what we do... but by who's we are.

When we allow those identities to control our thoughts and our own view we are giving the control to their source. Who is that? Is it other people? Is the person you see in the mirror entirely based on what you've been told you are? Yet again... this is as harmful with good things as bad.

So who does your identity belong to?

Your friends?

Your boyfriend/girlfriend?

Your parents?

Your leaders/teachers?

The media?

The church?

Your Past?

God...?

Look at that list. Some of those sources can lead to some dangerous and lifeless identities. If your identity is solely set on what happened in your past you aren't going to get anywhere. If its set on other people they get to make you into who they want you to be. Even those closest to you can change things in you just because its what they want you to be. You need solid Godly influence that will push you into who you are called to be and into your best life possible.

But what if...

we let God give us our identity.

He is eternal

He is perfect

He is love

He is the greatest father in history

He knows all

He knows your future

He knows your past

So why not give him control of the present? Search through His word and let Him know that He gets to tell you who you are. He will pull things out of you and gift you with things you could never imagine. The bible gives us a perfect example in Christ. We are called to be like Him and no identity is better than His.

No one knows you like He does.

No one loves you like He does.

No one's plan and identity for you is greater than His.

So let Him tell you who you are. Your past is forgiven and washed in the blood. There is no need to cling to those old and broken identities.

You are new

You are powerful

You are whole

You are beautiful

You are safe

You are His

You are loved

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.”