Sue Bidstrup / Great Big YES!

Encouraging Women to Live Faithful, Bold, Abundant Lives!

Spiritual Identity…Who am I?

Sometimes we forget who we are. We get all tangled up in what we do or what people think of us. When we are really low and things aren’t going our way, we may even decide we are not worthy, that maybe good things aren’t meant for us. We can get very confused and start believing lies. We start to shrink. We become fearful. That’s why any growth work we do in our life has to start with Identity. Circumstances change in life, relationships begin and end, jobs come and go. That’s why we cannot define our worth on our circumstances. When you are coaching with me, we will keep coming back to identity. It’s the beginning and the middle and the end. When we are afraid to start something new, we need to remember our identity. When we are facing obstacles, we need to remember our identity. All through our lives, this certainty of our worth keeps us awake and alive.

Who are you?

This is not the same question as, “What do you do?” or “What do you like?” or “Tell me about your family.” And still, when someone asks, “Who are you?” many of us would answer with what we do, what we like and we would start talking about being a mom, sister, wife, etc. I mean, I know it’s rare for someone to actually ask, “Who are you?” so we don’t get much practice with this. In fact, if we launched into …I”m a daughter of the King, beloved by Jesus and made in God’s image. He has great plans for me! People would look at us like we are crazy. But it’s all true.

In fact, a lot of the things we know to be true as Christians sound kind of off to the world. Because the world doesn’t understand. So tell them. Maybe they’ve never heard a person full of the strength that comes from Christ. Maybe they’ve never thought about their own identity. You can be a catalyst for someone to seek God. It’s powerful. Especially when you are feeling low or you just “failed” or “lost” in the world’s eyes but you are still standing strong, full of joy and hope, shining your light. People will look at you and say, “I’ll have what she’s having.’

Let’s start at the beginning.

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.

-Psalm 139:13-14 ESV

So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

-Genesis 1:27 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

Maybe you heard these things as a kid and it’s time you remember. Or maybe you thought you were certain of these things until your life started getting complicated and difficult and you got confused. Here’s the truth: You were created by God, in His image, he knit you together in your mother’s womb and He has great plans for you. That’s enough to stand on right there and there is so much more!

Journal Prompts:

Who are you?

How do you know your identity?

What never changes about you?

How will knowing your identity help you in life?