Who God Says I Am

– I have struggled with finding my identity in what I’m not.

– I’ve also settled my identity in what I do.

– But I’m trying to convince myself that my identity is who I am.

In my junior high and high school days, I was not athletic, not popular, and not attractive (I got my braces, my glasses and my terrible acne all in the seventh grade – ouch). My self-confidence was even lower than my self-image, and I felt like a nothing. These thoughts about myself became part of my identity, and have always shadowed me. Then as I graduated from college, got married (incredibly bright spot right here! I love my Bride!), and started working, I found some success in what I was doing. So I kept doing it, because I liked the affirmation and the encouragement from others. I’m a “people pleaser,” therefore I felt comfortable in doing what I thought everyone else thought I should be doing. This brought me great joy when people liked what I accomplished, but also brought me to a place of devastation when they did not. My attitude and self-worth was dependent on other people. But that’s not who I am. I’m an adopted Son of the King. I have accepted the gift of salvation given by Jesus Christ and have been welcomed into God’s family – and He calls me “son.” Okay. “What in the world does that really mean?” you probably say. And my short answer is, “I don’t really know – it still boggles my mind.”

But from the words of the Bible, God is very clear in saying…

“You are made in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27)

“You are mine” (Isaiah 43:1)

“You are chosen” (1 Peter 2:9)

“I’ll never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139)

“You are worth redeeming” (John 3:16)

“You are fully known and still loved” (Romans 5:8)

“You are made for a purpose” (Proverbs 16:4)

and so much more…

I still struggle with people-pleasing and issues of self-worth. I think many of us do – or else we have other things that get in the way of believing what God has said. So let’s constantly remind one another of who we are and whose we are. We are children of the King.