"Who am I? What is my purpose? What should I do with my life? Why am I the way I am? What are my talents? And what does it mean that my identity is in Christ?"
I was asking all of these questions. I had lots of emotions and was feeling so confused. I didn't have solid answers to these questions and that was the cause of many tears, questions, and soul searching.
God took me on a journey about a year and half ago that forever changed me.
I now know what it means to have an identity in Christ. I now have answers to these questions. I don't feel so lost and confused. I am satisfied in Christ.
I still have struggles, emotions, and questions sometimes. But no matter what, I know that I have value in Christ!
So what was this incredible journey? What did I learn? What are the answers to these questions?
Let's find out . . .
I had heard that as a believer your identity is in Christ. But that doesn't just mean that you identify as a Christian. No, there is much more to it than that. It is not just a title.
The questions "Who am I?" and "What is my purpose?" can clearly be answered for believers and give us so much hope, victory, freedom, and joy!
Who am I?
I am a child of God. I am loved, chosen, adopted, redeemed, a new creation, set apart, free, and forgiven. I am not forgotten. I have value. No matter what my circumstances are I am complete in Christ. Jesus did not even spare His own life for me. He died a shameful and brutal death to save me. I don't deserve it. I am a sinner in need of grace. I could never earn that grace, but God has chosen to give that grace to me freely. God has done this, not because I am good, but because He is good! I have hope for the future because I know that one day I will spend eternity in heaven worshipping my Creator and my Savior! I have hope, joy, peace, passion, faith, and endurance. No matter what others think of me or do to me, the Lord is with me. God is not absent from me. He grows me, guides me, convicts me, teaches me, changes me, and loves me. I have salvation in Him. I am His.
What is my purpose?
God has a purpose for my life. I might not know exactly how that will play out, but I know His will will be done. My purpose on this earth is to honor and glorify Him with my life. I choose to live my life for Him. I trust that He will guide me in this life. Psalm 57:2 - " I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me." God has made me on purpose, for a reason. He has a plan for me. I don't know what that is. And it might include trials, suffering, pain, and persecution. But I know that I can trust Him! His plan is far better than one I could ever come up with. He can use me, even in the every day, ordinary tasks, to advance His gospel and His kingdom.
Once I found the answers to these questions and fully received them my life changed. I didn't feel so unsteady, lost, sad, confused, and hopeless.
These truths can change your life too. If you put your trust in Christ and become (or already are) a true follower of Christ then these truths are yours. Realize it, understand it, embrace it! Go back and read the answers to the questions "Who am I" and "What is my purpose" and embrace these truths as a son or daughter of the King of kings!
Knowing your value and identity in Christ is essential. When you don't put your identity in Christ you will be unsteady, confused, hopeless, and discouraged. You might not even realize it, but you will begin to search for something to place your identity in. And anything other than Christ will not fulfill. Everything and everyone else will fail us at some point. But not Christ. He will never fail.
I didn't realize it at first either, but I began to search for my identity as well. I didn't know it, but I hadn't fully put my satisfaction in Christ alone. I was letting other things define me. But when I began to put my hope in Christ and let God define me, I found so much security!
Conclusion . . .
I encourage you to put your identity in Christ! You will find so much joy, peace, and freedom! You don't have to seek after the approval and/or acceptance of others. You don't have to worry about what others may do to or think of you. Your value in Christ is complete. If you know who you are in Christ you have nothing to fear. The Creator of the universe loves you! He has renewed you. You are His. Rest in this and embrace the hope we have in Him.
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