Discovering Identity

Who am I? This question roamed in my thoughts as a teenager. There were so many people and activities trying to label me. Identities like middle schooler, high schooler, choir student, youth pastor daughter, PK (pastor's kid), honor roll student, Mathlete, 1st Priority Officer, and so many more. I have to admit at some point all of these, well with the exception of Mathlete because I’m not even sure how I ended up on the 8th-grade math team with my poor math solving skills ;-), is where I found my identity for a time. Then I realized I was asking the wrong question.

I’m sure you are trying to find your identity in some similar labels in your life. But are you asking the same wrong question too?

John 1:12, “Yet to all who have received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave them the right to become children of God.”

The question…Who am I?

But the question we should all be asking is “WHOSE am I?” Scripture answers this question for us in John 1:12, “Yet to all who have received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave them the right to become children of God.”

If you have received Christ as your Savior by believing that He died and rose again to save you and give you eternal life with God, then your identity is found in being a CHILD OF GOD. You are His child and that is all that matters. 

As His child, you have also received His Spirit. Romans 8:15-16 tells you that “you did not receive a spirit that made you a slave to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.’” 

Photo by Diana Simumpande on Unsplash

Do you realize what this means? It means that by finding your identity in being God’s child, not in what you do or who you belong to on this earth, you never have to search for your identity again.  All those other places you find identity right now will eventually pass away. You won’t always be a middle schooler, high schooler, athlete, honor roll student, etc… But you will always be a child of God - both now and in eternity. 

We can be assured of this eternal identity because in Romans 8:17 we are told that “if we are God’s children then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if we indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” As a believer, you may experience difficulties on this earth but as an heir of God, you will receive your inheritance as His child in eternity. 

Stop trying to find your identity in the things you do or what your current status in life is. Look up in prayer asking God to show you that now and forever that your identity is found in being a child of God.  Then live in that identity and let it give you a purpose that no other identity can give. A purpose that moves you to share God with others so they can find their everlasting identity in Him too. 

No matter what you do as you grow older, being a child of God is your identity and gives you purpose.
Hold on to that and never let it go!