A well-known politician recently used the “identity” question to try to trip up his opponent. As crazy as it may sound, this is a simple yet effective tactic. However, it’s as old as when the Devil tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness:
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.” – Luke 4:9
Aren’t we all facing some version of this in today’s world? Employers, professors, and people in general often try to trip us up, asking us to prove ourselves or to validate our worth through their approval or “likes.”
Do we know who we are?
As a people, a community, a family, or as individuals, we often get confused about our identity.
I remember during my PhD, I carried a bag that said, “I am a scientist” every day.
I wasn’t verbally declaring it, but seeing it daily ingrained the idea in my mind. Although other things played a role, I unconsciously tied my identity to being a scientist. So much so that when I felt called to be a writer, it caused chaos in my life. I didn’t know what to do—should I write about science, medical topics, or something entirely different? All the while, I was advising people on various other topics.
Are we limited in our thinking that when we say “science” we only think of test tubes and chemicals? You see, I dreamt of becoming a scientist when I was a child. Did you know there’s a whole branch of science that deals with the mind and behavior? Many scientists trained in the life sciences work in other areas and as consultants in this area. The belief that if you didn’t study or aren’t certified in an area, you can’t practice or work in that field is called limited thinking or mindset.
We are not limited to the worldly systems that restrict our identity to what we do. When we incorporate our strengths, natural abilities, passions, skills, personality, and experiences, we can achieve far more than relying solely on a learned skill. Mix into all that our spiritual gift (Romans 12:6-8) that we get when we become believers and the possibilities are endless. This means many of us are operating well below our potential.
Who do people say we are?
Over the past five years, I’ve been asked if I was a psychologist, if I studied theology, and I’ve been told that I speak like a life coach. Most recently, I received request from companies to work as a physicist and a lawyer. Then just yesterday, a friend visiting from Jamaica said to me, my mom told me you are a motivational speaker and writer, thank you Auntie Sil and Pietra! And there it is, the dream to impact others came back through people in our lives.
Yet, since I earned my PhD in biochemistry, not one person has asked me about biochemistry, microbiology yes, but not biochemistry. When God closes a door, it remains shut. And we are who we are regardless of what we study.
Paying attention what we love and do everyday (regularly) without thinking
These are our passions; we can have more than one.
Further, during the PhD studies, I was searching to be better. Always seek to be better. I stumbled on leadership videos from John Maxwell, TD. Jakes, and Myles Munroe and many others. I watched these videos everyday, and slowly, but surely I got better in every area of my life. I thank all those who created videos and wrote books that helps us to get better!
Paying attention to how we express what we love
These are our strengths; again we can have more than one.
Everything I’ve done in the last five years was birthed through writing. When I couldn’t find a job, I felt lost. Even though I shared this with others, they didn’t believe me.
“Do you want a job?” Some people asked judgingly.
I did the one thing I always did when I felt lost and alone—I prayed and wrote down my thoughts, trying to make sense of them. I did this throughout my teenage years, then stopped when my life was seemingly going well. It was my writing that began to open doors. I was asked to become a Deacon in my church. As I grew in my strengths—writing and storytelling—I was asked to help train AI models as a scientific consultant. Interestingly, the model I worked on was the intelligent goal-oriented one. But whether people tell us, or life shows us who we are, do we know for ourselves? Do we believe who God says we are, which is not limited to a degree or certificate?
Why do we fight against ourselves?
The definition of “ourselves” in this context can refer to one person, but since no man is an island, it also includes the people we’re connected to—a married couple, a family with kids, a community, a nation.
We think we know more or better than God or the people He placed in our lives. Not everyone hears God audibly, though He speaks. But He will speak in a way that we will understand if we’re willing to listen. Do you want to hear Him? Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. James 4:8. Read His Word. Become the person who values Godly characteristics (yet, if we do not know His Word, how will we know what those characteristics are?).
We want control. We want what we want, when we want, and how we want it. Life doesn’t work this way. If we are children of God and we do get what we want exactly how we wanted it, it was the will of God or He allowed it (because He will get the glory eventually) and not so much because of our own doing. I find that God will give us what we want without struggle if we allow Him to do the work, and often, I may not like the process leading up to it, but I do like the outcome. This also requires us to wait, often longer than anticipated.
We are selfish. The heart is deceitful; who can know it? Why do we want our dreams? Sometimes we deceive ourselves, thinking we are doing things for the good of others, but only so it will benefit us. At times we may do things to look better or smarter because we compare ourselves to others. Sometimes we harbor bitterness, jealousy, envy, pride, or even hate that will kill our dreams because our intentions are wrong. Let us get into the habit of examining our hearts.
We are people pleasers. We want to be liked, so we do what we think others will approve of instead of following our dreams or listening to what God is telling us. In pleasing others, we lose ourselves for people rather than for Jesus. People pleasing can often look like kindness, but when we are kind just so a favor will be returned we are people pleasing. This can leave us feeling hurt when the person doesn’t respond the way we hoped. And we know hurting people, hurt people.
We don’t like change. With change comes uncertainty, which causes us to lose control. We want to preserve ourselves, so we do what we think we should do rather than asking the One who knows. Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for My sake will gain it. Matthew 16:25.
How God sees us is our true identity
People will question whether we can do the job, they will try to find faults, and we may even have our own doubts. But through all this, believe that God has our best interests at heart. We’ve got to trust Him and lean not on our own understanding.
So whenever the enemy tries to use our achievements, the color of our skin, or where we were born—anything outside of us—to trip us up, know who you are in Christ Jesus.
It’s not about me or you. It is all for the glory of God. We are who He wants us to be at the time He wants us to be. If we allow Him, we will get our dreams, and God will get the glory. So let go and let God shape us into who we were meant to be – our true identity.
Love,
Sanchia