Hey Friend,
This week I confess that I have had an identity crisis. My children are both grown so even though I will always be a "mom", I cannot identify myself as a stay-at-home mom. I'm not married so, at present, I am not a wife. I have been sidelined by extensive knee surgery that keeps me from working. Thus, I cannot call myself a teacher. I've had a bad cold and I have not been there as a friend or daughter. Zoe, my dog, looks at me wantingly for a walk that I can't even provide, so I am certainly not a good master this week. So, what am I?? Who am I??
Perhaps you wear many hats: mother, father, wife, husband, homemaker, employee, coach, chauffeur, referee, therapist, chief cook and bottle washer? But, what if all those roles were stripped away? What would you be? Who would you be?
I believe that God allows us these crises in order that we might examine, or re-examine who we truly are in Christ. If we could no longer do, strive or perform and had to just simply be, who would God say that we are? In my personal search for significance, I want to share some of the verses that spoke to me this week. Perhaps they will speak to you...God says:
"I love you." (John 3:16)
"You are my child." (John 1:12)
"You are my offspring." (Acts 17:28)
"You are fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14)
"You are not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book."
(Psalm 139:15-16)
"You are Christ's friend." (John 15:15)
"You are a joint heir with Christ." (Romans 8:17)
"You are my handiwork created in Christ Jesus for good works."
(Ephesians 2:10)
"You are my treasured possession." (Exodus 19:1)
"I have carved your name in the palm of my hand." (Isaiah 49:16)
"You are my temple." (I Cor. 3:16) ...and in me you are a new creation."
(2 Cor. 5:17)
"You are my lamb and I am your shepherd." (Psalm 23:1)
This is just a sampling of the many verses I found that speak to me being "a branch of the true vine".
One of my best friends reminded me of my own words to her..."We are not human doings; we are human beings." Perhaps I need to heed my own advice. It is not what I do that completes me, it is who I am in Christ that completes me and gives me my value and worth.
"I am complete in Christ." (Colossians 2:10)
My adequacy, your adequacy comes from God and God alone. (2 Cor. 3:5). He sent His son to die for you because you are far too precious to live without; not for what you do or have done, but simply because you ARE! He created you to live in loving relationship with Him and even if one or all of your roles falls short or is stripped away, know friend that your true identity is in God through Christ Jesus and that He loves you dearly!!
Live loved this week...
Love,
Bev
ps. Shout out for a big catalyst in me starting my blog: "You're Made for a God-Sized Dream" by Holley Gerth.
Leave a comment below...I'd love to hear from you...
