Identity is a big word in today’s society. Everyone in the world wants a purpose, whether they realize it or not. Some people find their identity in social media, friends, sports, accomplishments, and pretty much anything else.
In this day and age, many people are getting confused about things that are unchangeable, all because they want to have the identity and purpose that they want. What they don’t realize, is that God made them exactly how He wanted them to be, in His image.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”
Genesis 1:26 NASB.
When someone isn’t satisfied with themselves, they are saying the Lord was wrong, and it makes Him sad. He made your looks, your personality, your purpose, to be unique for you. People want to be noticed and thought of as special, don’t we all? But sometimes we fail to realize that we don’t have to do anything but be satisfied in who God made us to be. Why? Because He already made us unique, and we didn’t have to do a thing.
When people try to find their identity in things other than God, it always fails, because the only thing that can fill the void is the Lord. And He is always waiting to fill that hole inside because He loves and cares about you.
“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.’” John 7:37 NASB.
Identity in Things
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;” Matthew 6:19-
20 NASB
Nothing here on earth matters in light of eternity. No possessions here on earth will be taken to heaven, so finding identity in them is useless and it won’t last.
Sometimes, we treasure something so much, we accidentally begin to find our value in it. This happened to me over time, and I hadn’t even realized it!
At one point in my life, I wanted to become a professional golfer. But the real problem was, I didn’t really love the sport like I thought I did. No, I had just wanted to be defined as someone special. I wanted people to think that I was someone great. What I didn’t realize, was that I already was great in the sight of God, and I didn’t need to prove myself to anyone. But by finding my value in something that I wasn’t really called to do; I wasn’t obeying the Lord. He wanted me to do something else, and by me trying to find my identity in something other than Him, I wasn’t living to my full potential, nor was I ever satisfied.
Applying This in Our Lives
Many people in the world have this problem of placing their identity in something that they’re not. They want to be loved, cared about, and thought of as special. As Christ’s followers, it is our job to make sure that they come to realize that there is a God that is willing to do all of that and more for them.
I know that this is a well-known verse, and because it is said so much, it has begun to lack meaning. But please read this verse a couple times and realize how much your God loves you. Enough to make the ultimate sacrifice.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him stall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NASB.
When God said the world, your included too. Everyone needs to know this love, and we who see that love firsthand are the perfect ones to do it. Not only do we need to share it, but we also need to apply it. What do you find your purpose in? Is it preventing you from doing God’s calling?
Thank you for reading! I hope you walk away from this encouraged and knowing that you are perfect just the way God made you. If you have any comments, please leave them below! A list of Bible verses on how you are loved and were made special by God are below if you would like to look them up on your own time.
Psalm 139:13-14 1 John 4:18 Psalm 139:1-24 1 John 4:9-10
Zephaniah 3:17 1John 3:1 Romans 5:5 1 John 4:16
1 John 4:19 Galatians 2:20 Jeremiah 29:11 Matthew 10:29-30
Check out this week's challenge! It goes with this encouraging message!
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