Identity

Who do you say that I am?  Jesus asked this of His disciples resulting in multiple answers. How dense were they!?  How dense are we at times when that question comes up on our own identities?  Do I really know who I am?  Here are the things I know about myself, I think. ☺️

I am the baby of my family of origin. I am a married woman of almost 30 years. I am a stepmother of two and a grandmother of 6. I am retired/disabled. I am Catholic. I am a follower of Christ. I am a friend.  I am singer and cake artist and love to create.  How do I stack up against others?

Am I smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough, loving enough?  What is enough?  I believe that we all are enough if we live with authenticity.  When we honor who we truly are, who God created us to be, we live authentically.  Why do we question so much who we are?  God created me to be me just as He created you to be you.  No comparison necessary.  We do not need to be like someone else.  We do not need to try to measure up to someone else's expectations.  We only need to be true to who God intended us to be.

Now, does that take some figuring out who exactly that is?  Of course.  But with His help and guidance, it can be done.  Is it a process that will last the rest of our lives?  I think so.  He is always developing and growing us.  How do we know who He say we are?  Scripture tells us.  The Holy Spirit within us tells us.  My favorite scripture in this season of my life is Romans 8:28-38(below) in which I have found my identity.  It tells me that He chose me before I was born, that He called me according to His purpose for me, that He is using all things for good to make me all that He created me to be, and that I am more than a conqueror through Him.  Most of all, it tells me that I am loved by Him and nothing can ever separate me from that love.  I am enough for Him!  I am His princess warrior!  The daughter of the King girded in the armor of His love!

Romans 8:28-39

28 [a]We know that all things work for good for those who love God,[b] who are called according to his purpose. 29 [c]For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

31 [d]What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. 34 Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we are being slain all the day;
    we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things,[e] nor future things, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth,[f] nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.