Discovering Your Identity

” But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12  

Do you ever feel you are right smack dab in the middle of an identity crisis? While everyone around you is pursuing their passions and chasing their dreams, you’re just trying to make sense of who you are and what you’re supposed to be doing with your life. It doesn’t help that you see the achievements of the people around you. For example, one man you know started a flourishing company while a woman you know became a fighter pilot after graduating from college.

Perhaps, this is the reason the internet is bursting with personal development courses. Seeking to reach our full potential, we opt into the “how-to” topics such as: breaking through obstacles to manifest your best life, increasing your confidence and self-esteem, discovering your hidden potential, and mastering life through happiness, health and success. 

It is easy to associate our actions with our identity. But that is not what God does. Our culture may draw a line from our work to our worth, but God has another identity for us, one that’s unchanging and independent of our actions. It’s as His chosen and beloved child. John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

God’s acceptance of us, and hence our identity, is not defined by our actions. So we will never be a “failure” or “disappointment” when our performance doesn’t match our expectations. The only thing that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks about us. And that is unchanging. Once we really believe this truth, our identity will be unshakable.

The Bible is replete with examples of people following Jesus. No longer were they harlots, vagabonds, tax collectors, or society’s outcasts. They were chosen by the Lord. They were accepted. And they were necessary. 

You are chosen by God. Remembering whose we are and that He chose us brings the entire picture into a better light. When we acknowledge ourselves as God’s children and understand His great love for us, we embrace grace. We no longer feel trapped by our past choices, our upbringing, or our social status. We are not manipulated into being someone we are not based on the voices around us or the ones inside our heads. We can let all that go because we belong to Jesus. You no longer need to stand on your personal merits or achievements. Your identity is found in Christ alone. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 

Just as Jesus called His disciples to identify with Him, He calls us to do the same. Follow Him. Serve Him. Belong to Him. In doing so, we are choosing to find our identity in Him and in no other. 

Discussion Questions:

1. The only way we grow in our identity in Christ is by seeking the Lord because He is the one who restores and transforms us. Agree or disagree and why?
2. According to Ephesians 1:4, what truth should be fully realized in order to find identity in Christ?