Identity Crisis…Who are You?
What is your identity? What defines you? It’s a question that many of us ponder and one that young people today wrestle with in so many ways.
When someone asks, “Who are you?” It's a question of identity, value, purpose, and belonging. We should not typically answer that with “I’m a teacher” or “I’m an engineer” because those answers tell what we do, but not who we are. But far too often, we may find ourselves identifying ourselves by what we do and finding our identity and value in that. It’s an easy trap and one the enemy likes to weave for us. We begin to align our value by our productivity and by how useful we are to others. Yet, that’s not how God values us.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
What this world teaches us about our value is so warped and our sons and daughters (and we) too often fall into the trap of defining ourselves and our value by what we do and produce. But God doesn’t love us because of what we can do for Him. He didn’t choose us because we had something of value He could use. He didn’t redeem us because we showed promise or would be a great addition to the “team”. None of us was the strongest player, most engaging speaker, most diligent student or highest producer. We were wretched, ungodly, lost sinners. And while we were still sinners, filthy in our faults, our failures, our poverty of character, He chose us, died for us, and set us apart for His own.
Our value is not in what we do, it is in who we are and Whose we are.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18a
It’s easy to get caught up in our jobs, our ministry, our hobbies, and begin to make that our identity, especially if we’re good at it and hear words of affirmation telling us so. We begin to align our worth with our production, our position, our vocation or career goals and accomplishments. But God is not interested in a performative relationship where we excel and He loves us for it. No, He loves us because we are made in His image. We did nothing to earn this love. Yet we benefit from it in so many ways.
1 John 4:10, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
A job loss, a market shift, a debilitating illness or accident can happen suddenly and those things which we believed gave us value suddenly disappear and if we’re not careful, our estimation of our value shifts or diminishes.
What we thought gave us value and purpose is no longer present and we risk spiraling into defeat, lack of purpose, and feeling worthless. God never intended us to find our value and purpose in what we do, but to find our value and purpose in Him and express that through what we do, demonstrating to others the joy of the Lord and the purpose and value He gives us when we walk faithfully with Him.
“We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.” 2 Corinthians 6:8a (NLT)
When we find our identity in Christ we have a secure (Psalm 16:5), unchangeable (Hebrews 13:8), and perfect identity as His child (1 John 5:1), His beloved (Colossians 3:12), the one in whom He delights and rejoices over with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). THAT is a powerful identity!
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
When we seek His kingdom first, we are setting our priorities according to God’s will and focusing on things of eternal value, not things that are temporary, flawed, and unpredictable. We begin to understand who we are and what our purpose is. This world WILL pass away, yet we are created to be eternal and our home is with Him in His kingdom.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters, first that they would seek God’s kingdom before anything else. Next, pray that they would understand their identity in light of Jesus' love, sacrifice, and purpose for them. Pray they would have an eternal mindset and not get distracted by status, wealth, and things of this world. Ask God to bind the enemy and keep him from interfering or distracting them from understanding who they are in Christ and the purpose He has for them.
“Our Father in Heaven, Your name is holy. I pray that Your kingdom would come so that both earth and heaven would be set at one again under Your authority and reign- a shalom of Your creation as you intended. Lord, I pray that (name) would desire that most of all- to see You reign and every knee bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. If that is not our heart’s desire, change our hearts. I pray that (name) would always seek Your kingdom first. Help them to know and understand they are Your child, You love them and have a purpose for them. This world is not their home, nor is it where they should find their purpose and value. But, Father, when that is what we’re surrounded by and all that we know, it’s difficult to not fall into the habits and traps of valuing ourselves and finding our identity in what this world says is important and purposeful. Father, I pray that You would interrupt (name)’s thoughts today. Shift their heart desires to You. Turn their eyes away from worthless things. Give them a deep understanding of their value and purpose in Christ. Define their identity according to Your will and Your Word. Remind them that this world is temporary and give them a longing to be in Your presence and to worship and serve You alone. Lord, work in all of our hearts and make us more like Christ, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Are you praying for a prodigal? Oh the heartache and heaviness of battling in prayer for one who needs to return to Jesus! Yet, you’re praying to the One who made their heart and knows it completely. 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal is a great Bible-based resource to guide your prayer journey and bring you closer to the Lord with each passing day. Get your copy today and transform your prayer life in significant ways!
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