by Jeanni Ritchie
After one of my regular freelance gigs unexpectedly ended recently, I found myself picking up my phone several times a day to text that editor as usual about potential stories. Each time I’d remember that they’d “restructured” without my services before putting the phone back down brokenhearted.
After a few days of vacillating between pragmatic reasoning and an emotional pity party, I cried aloud to the Lord, “I feel like my identity has been stripped away!”
The minute the words left my mouth, I was convicted.
Somehow, without me even realizing it, my self-identity had segued more into being a writer than being a disciple of Christ.
Satan hadn’t stolen anything from me this time. I lost that job all on my own because I’d placed it over God’s purpose for my life. Community writing was always supposed to be secondary to faith writing.
How many times did I promise the Lord I’d work on my devotional and faith manuscripts the following week only to continue pushing it down on my priority list? Newsflash: God’s will WILL be done in your life.
The Lord will strip everything away that exalts itself over Him. (Colossians 1:15-20)
Especially when you pray for refiner’s fire. (Zechariah 13:9). Years ago, I’d prayed for the Lord to put me through such fire. I wanted to be pure and unblemished, a valuable piece of gold for His glory.
I naively thought it would take a couple of thrusts and I’d be perfect. It’s amazing how much wickedness we hide from our own selves. In truth, there would be over two decades of fiery trials designed to break traumas and triggers, delineate patterns that derailed me, and change thought processes.
There was also the realization that I’d never be done. I might be ready for a display case but there’s always need for polishing. Until I stand before the Lord in Heaven, I will always be clay in the Potter’s hands.
And I will always find my identity in Him.
When we find our identity in Christ, we are better in every area of our life. Wife, husband, mother, child, employee, friend…we are more because He is more in us.
If we find our identity in those things first, we operate in the flesh and will inevitably fail. (Romans 7:18)
It is life graded on a curve. With Christ, you are ahead of the average. You have an identity that is made in His image. No matter what goes wrong, you persevere because of the Spirit within you.
You know these things to be true:
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
You are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Christ lives in you. Galatians 2:20
You are chosen for God’s purpose. 1 Peter 2:9
You were made to show the good works of God. Ephesians 2:10
You are powerful. 2 Timothy 1:7
You are an heir of Christ. John 1:12
There is nothing on this earth, no identity the world can ever give me, that is greater than who I am in Jesus.
Read more faith essays at www.faithunfaded.com.
