I know I'm not the only one in this world to struggle with identity. But here's what I realized the other day---
It's a lot of hard work to be constantly thinking about this quest to 'find out who I am' and 'find my identity' and all this jazz. How do you EVER get to the finish? How do you know when you're done this quest? Do you ever finish? Is there ever a point where you can say 'I know who I am!'?
This sure is cause for stress. BUT! What about if we just keep ourselves busy doing life the way Jesus would have us do life? What about if we put Him first, even before all of this 'finding out who I am' business? What if we consciously stop thinking and worrying about this identity quest, and start living genuinely for Jesus? Is this what finding your identity in Christ looks like?
I know it's not a new concept...but it became real to me the other day when I realized how incredibly sure I can be about Jesus Christ's presence in my life. He is so much more sure and certain than I could ever be---why not live in His image!? This is not a case of 'oh, my personality is boring, let's just borrow these characteristics from this person'...no. This is a case of being a true Christian, down to the very core, and being secure in this. And my own unique personality will come out in Christ---He's the one who redeemed me and gave me life, He might as well also be the one who teaches me how to be me.
Cool.
I like learning things like this.
It's a lot of hard work to be constantly thinking about this quest to 'find out who I am' and 'find my identity' and all this jazz. How do you EVER get to the finish? How do you know when you're done this quest? Do you ever finish? Is there ever a point where you can say 'I know who I am!'?
This sure is cause for stress. BUT! What about if we just keep ourselves busy doing life the way Jesus would have us do life? What about if we put Him first, even before all of this 'finding out who I am' business? What if we consciously stop thinking and worrying about this identity quest, and start living genuinely for Jesus? Is this what finding your identity in Christ looks like?
I know it's not a new concept...but it became real to me the other day when I realized how incredibly sure I can be about Jesus Christ's presence in my life. He is so much more sure and certain than I could ever be---why not live in His image!? This is not a case of 'oh, my personality is boring, let's just borrow these characteristics from this person'...no. This is a case of being a true Christian, down to the very core, and being secure in this. And my own unique personality will come out in Christ---He's the one who redeemed me and gave me life, He might as well also be the one who teaches me how to be me.
Cool.
I like learning things like this.
4 comments:
True enough!!
thanks for sharing that. I needed that reminder.
Justine, it IS true ... at the same time, as i read this post, i couldn't help thinking of all your Justine-characteristics and quirks, and all the ways i've known you to be over the decades (!!) and it's really hard for me to imagine you as someone who is still waiting to be someone. You ARE someone! There's no doubting it!
But you are indeed on to an excellent thought here ...
:)
happy landscraping
woah. decades! that's crazy, are we old enough to say that!? ;p
it's true though, elaine. and i'm not sure that losing identity means losing characteristics and quirks, simply that those characteristics and quirks come from being sure of who i am in Christ, not from me just being me. and now, being conscious about this, it's a different sort of perspective to have on how to live. 'maybe' i'll learn more about this through the week...:)
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