i·den·ti·ty I'm finding that this is something I'm becoming quite passionate about: the subject of identity. More specifically, the differences between our worldly identities and our identities in Christ. A friend asked me a little while back what the difference was between the two. My answer: Our worldy identities are the ones that the world (people, ourselves, the enemy, media, etc) give us. Our identities in Christ are the ones that God has given us - our TRUE identities. Pretty simple, yeah? You'd think it would be . . . Here's the problem though: So often our worldly identities are the ones we take on for ourselves, but our worldly identities are often based mostly on lies. And the lovely thing about lies is that they're made to seem as much like the truth as possible. Great. So here we are, basing our identities off of lies that we have claimed to be "truth". You know what I'm talking about. That subtle facial expression someone gives you that feeds the lie that you're a burden; the way people look in movies or magazines that feed the lie that you're ugly, or not good enough; that sarcastic comment or joke that feeds the lie that you're not intelligent; that grade that feeds the lie that you're a failure. It happens with everyone. Maybe not in those specific ways, but in others perhaps. And if it doesn't . . . then share with me your ways. Think about it though. What are some things that you've believed about yourself, or that you've been told about yourself, that may be lies? It's way more difficult to think about & realize than you'd think. It's taken me 20 years to come to the realization that thinking I was stupid was a lie, and that I am in fact not stupid. Huzzah! Yay truth ^.^ It's taken me 16 years to realize that I have value. This is something that might sound like some sort of self-pity party, but I can assure you, it's not. I got blown off by friends growing up A LOT. People forgot about me more times than I'd care to remember. Though I'm sure nothing was meant by it, it greatly affected how I viewed myself. People - friends - didn't find it important enough to spend time with me, or tell me that they weren't coming, or decided to do something else instead? Must mean I'm not important enough. And that's how I viewed myself for quite some time. I was focusing on my worldly identity; letting media, false perceptions, the enemy, people & their thoughts define who I was. When I was little - about 6 or 7 or so - my mum, sister, and I were on our way home from school. As we sat in the van, mum & Abi in the front, me in the back, I asked my mum, "Mommy, who am I?" I took her by surprise with that. I often asked her the questions that no one could really answer. That was a question I asked myself a lot growing up. It's taken me 20 years to get through the lies, the false perceptions, and the damage to see who it is that I really am; who it is God made me to be. Who it is that He's shaping & molding me to be. I can't begin to express how overwhelmed I feel about that sometimes. Overwhelmed with joy, and excitement, and gumption, and a release that's like no other. I've finally been able to start shedding off the false perception of myself that I've been carrying for nearly 20 years . . . This is something God laid on my heart to do as a visual representation & reminder for myself. It surprisingly helped a lot when making it. Hopefully someone else will be able to find some sort of encouragement or be able to relate to it ^.^ P.S. if this is something that interests you, I'd super love to talk about it! Just sayin'. . .
4 Comments
Lucas
5/19/2013 11:55:05 am
Excellent Lew! I'm following you post by post... your Ex Interpals friend Lucas...
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Lew
5/19/2013 12:12:51 pm
Lucas! That made my day. I've been praying for you, man ^.^
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Lucas
5/20/2013 06:30:06 am
I've also been praying for you, Lisse! You help me a LOT everyday!
Chelsea
5/19/2013 03:24:30 pm
Thank you for this reminder, dear friend! You are such an encouragement to me in this struggle. I so appreciate the truth that you speak.
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