Written by Sheridan Northeast
Each day we are surrounded by influences from society telling us who we are supposed to be. Each day, men and women alike compare themselves to each other, resulting in low self-esteem and low self-worth. But it isn’t society’s job to tell us who we are – that job belongs to God our Creator.
This topic has been on my mind for a while now since this is something I struggle with. I think others also struggle with trying to find out who they genuinely are and remembering their true value and worth.
For example, when I was an adolescent teenager, I remember comparing myself to other people who were better than I was, or who were skinnier or more fit than I was. It got to the point where I was consistently doing it. I ended up getting depressed and down on myself because I wanted to be like everyone else.
I wanted so badly to fit in with my friends and be popular. I went through a long battle of what I thought I should be and what God wants me to be.
But do you know what?
God created us. He made every one of us. He knew who we were going to be even before we were born. Psalm 139 talks about this. It says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth” (Psalm 139:13-15 NIV).
Since God is the one who created us, our identity should be in God alone. In Romans, Paul says we should not listen to what the world has to say, but instead try to change how we think in general. “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes” (Romans 12:2 TPT).
This verse confirms what I have just explained. In our world today, there are many stereotypes and situations that influence who we should be. Whether you are a Christian or not, we should not give in to what society says about who we should be, because it is not true. We are born to stand out and not fit in with the crowd.
Who we are in Christ is more important than who everyone else says we should be. Our identity is found in Christ alone, not in what the world has to offer. Our identity is not found in what society says. We are more than that. We are free because we have Christ on our side, leading and empowering us to grow – not into the person society wants us to be, but into the individual God created us to be. THAT IS FREEDOM!
