Identity

Have you even been in a conversation with someone and they say, “Hey, tell me your story.” I feel like we all have experienced this at least once in our lives. What they ultimately are asking is Why are you who you are? What’s your identity?”

Have you ever had a moment of self-reflection and truly thought about your identity? This is something that frequents my mind so often, almost too much if I’m being honest.

When I think about my identity I often think about my relationships with other people. (i.e. mother, sister, daughter, friend) and how I can strive to be the best of those things for other people. I don’t really think about it being who I am when I’m alone in my day to day life. And I still believe that there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s part of who I am and how I operate. Though, I feel like I need to define who I am to myself and work out ow my identity aligns with God’s call.

I recently had a conversation with someone where the topic of identity came up. They discuss how they were afraid that their past story was also going to be their future identity. I think as young adults we begin to feel the pressure of shedding the parts of our lives we no longer want to align with. Which is a really uncomfortable process because it’s hard to transition into a new version of yourself.

“Though you can’t rewrite the past, it doesn’t have to be the pen that guides your future pages.”

From Saul to Paul

We are very familiar with the Apostle Paul and all of the wonderful works he did once he met Jesus Christ but before Paul gained his new identify and was named Saul, he wasn’t the greatest of men. When Paul was Saul, life his story was that he was born as a high level Jew, destined to be trained as a leader of the Pharisees. He leaned into the identity that lead him to actually kill many Jews that began to follow the teachings of Jesus. (This story beings in Acts 9: 1-19)

After encountering Jesus, he was given a new story to write, and more importantly a new identity. The same passion that he had when he was fight against Christians was not the same passion he had as he fought for Christians. Because of Paul, the gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughput the world at exponential rates. He leaned into the belief that no matter what our past is, God makes all things work for the good of those who love him.

Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.“

Through God’s love and hope.

I read this story once about a guy who had allowed addiction to consume his life to the point that he truly identified himself as an addict and said “This is who I have always been. I don’t know anything else.” He lived his life like this for a good decade until one day he realizes he didn’t was to be this person anymore. He sought out the help he needed. He sought out God. He wanted to be granted with a new identity. He bought a house and shared it with a few other recovering addicts who were on the same journey as him. Little did he know that his story would inspire so many people to do the same. People welcomed him with open arms and even encouraged him to buy more houses and use them to share his story and become who they are truly meant to be in this world. To be a guide for those who are lost and weary. To give them hope. Here we are a decade later and he has several dozen houses all over the state of California and has helped hundreds of people find refuge and purpose through the love of God.

Psalm 139: 13-14: “13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.“

I never put much thought into the word Identity. I jokingly have said that I was having an identity crisis when I thought about changing my name after marriage. Because I have always been my name and when that changes does it change me? I mean yes, I would be a wife instead of a fiancé but does anything else really change with that? Aside from that, I always considered your identity was a reflection of what other people saw you as, almost like a label. But I am learning that it is far more than just that.

I never considered someone’s identity is something that can be changed but it happens in the bible all of the time. When God decides to rewrite someone’s story he even goes to the extent of changing their name as we saw with Saul/Paul. But it can also be rewritten in your acts and how you choose to live our your purpose. Some people may think that it is dangerous to connect our identities to a story about our lives that are negative but I feel like it’s a beautiful way to connect with those in need. Sometimes it takes people to see that positive outcomes are possible to allow hope to grow within them.

In your life, whether it’s things you’ve done or things that have been done to you,. your story is not over and your identity is not done being formed. God intends for good in your life. He created you with purpose and on purpose! He can use your life’s story to impact the world.

What are ways that we can allow God to begin rewriting our stories and transforming our identity?

with love,

c.p