How many of you struggle to hear or even believe good things about yourself? Who is unable to even look at themselves in the mirror and like what they see? We seem to be suffering from something of an identity crisis and I don’t think it’s just restricted to young people. It seems to be endemic in society today! But, why?
We are all looking to fit in with our peers and we want to be part of the popular crowd. We will do whatever it takes to be ‘in’ and sometimes that means trying to be like someone else, someone you think is a better this or a better that. Does this sound at all familiar?
Somewhere along the line we have started to believe lies that we are not enough, don’t really fit in, don’t wear the right clothes, or don’t have the right ‘stuff’.
But, that was not how it was intended when God created us!
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27
When he stood back and admired his handiwork God was well pleased. God created you to be unique and individual; there is no-one else like you. That’s because God didn’t want clones but individuals, one of a kind models.
How many of us know the scripture that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made?” I love this version from the New Living translation:
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous-how well I know it!” – Psalm 139:14
But do we know it?
God created you with your own unique gifts and abilities. You have your own sphere of influence. You are a storehouse and have resources available to you from heaven, that no-one else has. You are made in the image of Christ; you are daughters of the living God. You are co-heirs with Christ, you are His beloved. You are priceless beyond measure and He sent His only son for YOU because you are worth it!
If you are born again, Christ dwells with-in you. Once you are baptised in the Holy Spirit you have all the power you need to live like Jesus and a direct line to the Father. We have authority not because of who we are but because of whose we are and because of this we get to live like the first disciples after the Holy Spirit came upon them.
“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” – Matt 10:1
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“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.” – Matt 10:5-8. MSG
You see the enemy would love to keep us from being who we are called to be and living in the understanding of our true identity because we are powerful, and once we grasp the reality of living out our true identity then nothing can stop us from fulfilling God’s plans for us on this earth.
When we are struggling to come to terms with who we were created to be and comparing ourselves with others or moaning about how we look or wondering why God doesn’t speak to us the way he speaks to our friend we are calling in to question God’s amazing workmanship.
He never makes mistakes, it’s not in his nature to mess things up! When he created you and me it’s because the world need a you and me and we are not an afterthought or created by mere chance.
In fact, it states in scripture that God knew everything about us before we were even born.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” – Psalm 139:13
When we question or doubt God about who we truly are it is like arguing with God.
“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?” – Isaiah 45:9
So, the next time you moan about yourself or don’t accept praise and encouragement because you don’t feel worthy remember this:
There’s only one you and only one me. You are free to be you, the world needs YOU!
2 comments
That’s helpful Lynne if anyone reading is looking for help with this.
Thanks for reading.
You would love The Problem Solver, a book by Tom Gehring. He really has a great message on giving your troubles back to God, we sometimes in our walk lose faith because we are trying to deal with it all on our own. His book is brilliant, really got me back on track.