Who are we?
Every day of our lives, people tell us who we are. It can be things to build us up or tear us down. What others say about us and the names they call us can only be accurate if that is what God’s word says about us. So, find out who God says you are.
Where does your identity come from? I had a girlfriend that used to say “I know who I am in Christ.” She sounded so confident when she said it. I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant but I would always nod in agreement acting like I knew what she meant. I wanted to be able to say that with confidence but I wasn’t sure how to achieve it.
People-pleasing was something I struggled with for a long time. God finally got through to me and taught me that He created me to please Him, not others. God had to do a major work in me because I had spent so much of my lifetime worrying about what other people thought of me. Until God healed me, my self-worth came from what others thought of me and not from what God thought of me.
When my self-worth came from others, my worth fluctuated depending on how people treated me. If people were nice to me, then I felt good about myself but if people were rude or critical, then my self-worth would plummet. The opinions of others became an obsession for me like a rollercoaster ride that left me feeling dizzy and nauseous. I needed to get off the ride and find my identity in Yeshua only.
Once I reached a crisis of faith in this area and had reached the bottom and was crying out for help and healing, He reached His hand out to me. He was waiting on me to call out to Him. I then surrendered this area of my life totally to Yeshua and made Him the true foundation for my life, my self-worth was no longer based on the ever-changing opinions of others but on the unchanging love of God.
Yeshua, my Messiah died for me while I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8) and His love for me is not based on my performance but on His grace alone. Knowing that nothing can separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:39) gives me a confidence that comes from Yeshua alone and this is the kind of confidence that cannot be shaken by anything or anyone in this world (1 Peter 3:14-15).
We are not our circumstances
We can be so easily confined to the boxes our circumstances label us with, but God reminds us that we are much more than our current situation. Adonai our God says who we are, and only He holds the truth and answers about our identity. We may be limited in what we can do, but Adonai sees and loves us beyond those limits – He gives us the strength to rise up and be who He’s calling us to become, no matter what is going on around us. When we finally set down our own plans for ourselves and put God’s will first, even incredibly difficult circumstances don’t have to define who we are or where He is leading us!
We are not our mistakes
We are not defined by our mistakes, God defines us. He is truth and He says who we are—it is in Him that we find our worth, identity, and value. God’s love for us is unconditional, so no matter how many mess-ups or mistakes we make in life, God’s opinion of us will still remain the same. His promises to love and accept us give us hope and courage to move forward each day. We can use the past as a lesson but not allow it to keep us bound in the present or future; instead of dwelling on our mistakes, why don’t we start living boldly in God’s grace?
We are not what other people think of us
Although it can be tempting to fall into the trap of people pleasing, it’s important for us to remember that we are God-pleasers; not people-pleasers. Trying to please others will never lead us to lasting satisfaction or joy. The key is discovering who we truly are in God’s eyes. He says who we are, and holds the truth and answers to our identity, so seeking Him and His love is essential in understanding our own worth. Ultimately, Adonai is the only one who knows everything about us and gives us true affirmation – we do not have to look any further than Him for validation.
Our identity comes from Yeshua our Messiah
He alone knows who we are and what is best for us. He says who we are and in His truth, we can find joy. Every day can bring its own set of stresses and worries, but Yeshua provides the answers to our identity struggles if we just trust in Him. He will always show us how much He loves us and although that love may not look like what we expect, it is real nonetheless. Through God’s Shalom-peace, we can rest in His truth and by finding our identity in God, be embraced in His arms of love and grace. Trusting God requires faithful obedience for us to receive everything He has for us; it is key for finding out who God created us to be – divinely chosen to reflect God’s glory.
When we know who we are in Yeshua’s eyes, we can live confidently and boldly for Him
God says we are His beloved children, and this gives us comfort, strength and lasting hope. When we try to find our identity in the world around us, God calls us to look up and see who He says we are in Him. God’s truth is our answer; when we know who we are in God, it reveals a new dimension of ourselves that is deeply rooted in His unconditional love. This gives us confidence and boldness as God’s chosen ones to take hold of all God has for us. The way God makes Himself known through who He says we are brings us indescribable comfort amidst uncertainty, assurance amidst suggestion of doubt, and peace amidst anxieties. Let’s take heart that God knows who we are and let that truth shape our thinking so the world might experience more of God’s courage injected into our decisions – through His eyes, not ours.
As we have seen, our identity comes from Yeshua alone. When we know who we are in Him, we can live confidently and boldly for Him. This is a truth that should change the way we view ourselves and how we interact with others. We are not defined by our circumstances, mistakes, or the opinions of others. Instead, let’s allow Yeshua to redefine us so that we can more faithfully represent Him to the world. In order to do this, it is important that we study the whole bible, Genesis to Revelation and get firsthand knowledge of what God’s word says about who He created us to be. Only then will we be able to walk in confidence knowing that His opinion of us is the only one that truly matters.
So, today, if you are struggling with your identity or feeling like you don’t belong, take comfort in knowing that you are a child of God (1 John 3:1) and He has amazing plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Don’t let anyone or anything else define you – let God’s Word be the final authority on who you are!
Ephesians 2
For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.
Philippians 2
For God is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases him.
2 Corinthians 5
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation— the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!
What a delightful thought!
I invite you to search the Truth yourself.
Test it. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
I pray that each of you that read this find complete healing and discover your true identity in Yeshua; who He says you are. What He says is your truth.
Please go to your Bible and study the entire story. See firsthand what His word says and what He wants to show you. I always check several versions to allow the Spirit to show me the difference and truth. I recommend you do the same.
Enjoy pondering that thought today!
God bless you