Who are you?

If someone were to ask the question “who are you”, what would be your response? Would you be quick to answer with your job position, marital status or passion? Often times we struggle with understanding the true essence of ourselves and allow “add-ons” to become our identity. Unfortunately, there was a point in time when I didn’t know who I was. Here’s my story...

One day, I was walking down the street as a confused fourteen year old girl, when a senior man walking toward me looked up and said, “you are very beautiful, you don’t need any makeup.” I’m beautiful? I bowed my head and kept walking because that was the first time I heard those words directed to me. I never thought I was beautiful. I believe he was an angel sent by God to utter such words at that particular time in my life. As a teenager, I struggled with my identity and self-worth. I didn’t know who I was because I didn’t know whose I was and how He defined me. I struggled with self-worth because my worth came from created things and not my Creator.

At the beginning of highschool, my younger friends began developing breasts and starting their menstrual cycle; it seemed like all the girls my age were, except me. I was an anomaly. I wanted the opportunity to go bra shopping with my friends, but I was left feeling like an outcast. I couldn’t join their conversations about buying their first bra or having to pick up pads at the store. One morning, I decided to take my concern to God and requested two specific things: to let me begin my cycle, and to give me bigger boobs. I desired a bigger bust because I perceived boys paid more attention to girls with that body type. I envied how my friends would have low cut shirts that revealed their full bustlines, and decided to start stuffing my bra to make them appear bigger..I wanted to fit in with my friends. I wanted to feel beautiful.

As I reflect, I realized my identity was wrapped up in self image; not satisfied with myself, but had an image of who I wanted to be. Unfortunately, we live in a world where many individuals struggle with discovering their identity. We’re living in a “gender fluid” society where people desire to be a gender they were never created to be; women and men thinking their sexual orientation depends on feelings and not their biological makeup; adolescents believing their social media likes validate them as an individual. My friends, our identity is not in our outward appearance, career, spouses or children. We are often moved by what we see, forgetting that the One who sees our innermost parts, truly knows who we are.

As I began to study God’s word, I realized my identity was in the wrong things. My identity was not in my bustline, my clothes, or my friends. My identity is in Christ. The first chapter of Ephesians tells me that in Christ

I am Blessed.

I am called by God

I am holy and blameless in God’s sight

I am forgiven. I am adopted. I am accepted

I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus

I am a recipient of God’s love

I am chosen

At first, it was difficult for me to accept those truths because my identity crisis had me believing lies; sadly, I’m not the only christian who’s had this struggle. Whether a pastor, small group facilitator, or worship leader; we ought to allow truth to inform us of who we are and not our title. If we fail to know who we are then we will fail in fulfilling our purpose.

I encourage you to spend time with God and His word. Seek out who he says you are and allow His truths to reveal the real you. Forget what your friends, body type, bank statement or social status says about you. The Creator gets to define His creation.