Who does God say I am?
AN IDENTITY IN FLUX
One of the blessings in my life is having conversations with newcomers to Canada, building friendships, and encouraging them as they learn English. We often discuss common questions people might ask when meeting for the first time.
Some of these questions cross cultural lines, but others don’t, such as How are you? I explain that this is more of a greeting, so you do not need to give a lengthy answer. In fact, people might be shocked if you told them how you are really feeling. 😊
I often have to explain that when someone asks What do you do?, they are asking about what you do for a job. This can be a tricky question for a newcomer. It is often not a case of what they do but what they used to do… which can be a sensitive topic because they are not usually able to do what they used to do in their new country. Their identity can feel unstable, in flux.
AN IDENTITY THAT DOES NOT CHANGE
When asked this same question, I relate to this feeling, but for different reasons. My feelings stem from my chronic illnesses, which have changed what I do. Just as a person who moves to a new country may struggle with their identity, so do I. I wonder: have you, too? It can be hard to know who we are amid the changes that illnesses cause.
What if we could have an identity that does not change, no matter what we do, where we live, or how we feel—an identity not based on what the world looks at as important (our jobs, our position in our families, or what we have) but on who God says we are?
I have spent time with God on this topic more than once, as I often slip back into basing my identity on what the world says. I have found that reminding myself of who I truly am in God can dramatically change my day.
WHO DOES GOD SAY I AM?
So, who does God say that we are? Can you think of any scriptures where He shares this with us?
- Psalm 139:1-18 is always an excellent place for me to start. Take a moment to read this passage, and then name some things God says about us. What stands out?
Verse 14 reminds me that He created me intricately and wonderfully, and that I am truly His masterpiece. This is difficult for me to believe. Why would God have made me this way and called it a wonderful masterpiece? Yet He does—and He wants me to live confidently in this truth!
- The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17) is another incredible verse.
Did you catch it? He rejoices over us with singing. God loves us so much that He sings over us!
Here are a few more:
- We are chosen. You did not choose me, but I chose you. (John 15:16)
- We are seen. You are the God who sees me. (Genesis 16:13)
- We are complete just as we are. …and you are complete in Him. (Colossians 2:10)
- We are accepted. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you. (Romans 15:7)
When you feel less than, unseen, incomplete, unaccepted, run to the word of the Lord. Let Him tell you who you are. Walk in confidence that you are His masterpiece, just as you are.
INVITATION:
I would also like to invite you to try something that I find powerful. Find or print a picture of yourself and spend time with God, writing words and phrases of who God says you are around the photo. I’ve found it challenging to look at myself when I have done this. Lies from the enemy want to take hold, but as I write down what God says about me, I start to believe it. My identity is in Him. I am His masterpiece, and He rejoices over me. Give it a try and let God remind you who you really are. Chronic Joy has a wonderful printable (God Says I Am) that reminds us of just that.
PRAYER
Father, how amazing that we get to call you Father. You are our Father, and we are Your children. This is our true identity. On days when the world tells us differently, remind us. Thank You for being so pleased with us that You rejoice over us with singing, that you choose us, and so much more. What a good Father you are! In Jesus’ name, amen.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- Can you think of a time when you struggled with your identity?
- What Bible verse is most meaningful to you in your current circumstances?
- As you wrote words around your picture, what did it reveal about who God says you are? What did you most need to be reminded of?
Kara Plett
Ministry Assistant
Kara and her husband Conrad live in Calgary, Canada, where she taught for 28 years. She loves the Word of God and encourages others through her devotional writing. Kara felt led to write a book of devotionals (Searching for Sea Glass) when her journey with chronic illnesses pressed her more deeply into God’s arms of love. She prays that her journey and refinement will encourage your walk with God.
God Says I Am
Do you know how much God loves you, how valuable you are to Him? Do you feel seen, known, treasured, safe, and chosen? God cares about every detail of our lives. He is our shelter from the storm, our strength when we are weak, and the one who loves us beyond all imagining. Yet how often do we identify ourselves by the single most important detail about who we are—a child of God?
There is some amount of conversation about those two questions within the autism community and “What do you do?” is especially difficult for a lot of people. High among the causes of that is a bit of resentment to being defined by the task you do to get income to pay the bills. Another reason high on the list is a feeling that it is none of their business.
So, a number of people have modified that question to things like, “What do you do that brings you joy?”
They report that it is rather interesting to see how many people are a bit baffled by that question, or at least have to stop and think about it.
Then they report about the number of people who get a light in their eyes and gleefully tell about projects and hobbies and other things they are engaged in.
Hi Scott – I love that question, What do you do that brings you joy?” I’m going to use it. Thanks for your comment.