Who Am I?
“The definition of identity is who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world, and the characteristics that define you.”
Yes, it’s crazy to think that sometimes we struggle to figure out our own identity. It depends on many factors like how we were raised, who we surround ourselves with, how we spend our time, and what are goals are, right? These factors definitely contribute to shaping us, but, what is our true identity?
First, our identity must be rooted in something that is stable and concrete, or else we would be putting ourselves at risk to have an identity crisis too frequently. Some people place their identity in traits tied to their education, so being “smart” is their identity, and this gets proved or disproved each time this person receives a grade. Another example is one who places their root of confidence and identity on his or her career. Thus, how this person may operate is mainly seeking happiness from his or her job, which can change at the end of the day. Overall, placing your confidence, self-worth, and identity in something that can change ultimately sets you up for disappointment and confusion.
I am sure you can see where I am leading to — what never changes? God. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God’s love for us is never changing, and we hear this often. If we’ve learned one thing from kindergarten Sunday School, it’s “God is love”. But what does this really mean? God has given us so many beautiful reminders in the Bible that I have placed throughout to remind you of.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13
Placing your identity in the fact that you are God’s child is the best thing you can do for yourself. Identifying with your Father who loves you so much that He gave His life for you will keep you so fulfilled. By “identifying as a Christian”, I don’t just mean going through the motions of the Christian life, but truly being concious of how you are living your life according to this identity.
Going back to the example of grades and careers, identifying with your goals, grades, and future career will consume your mind in a toxic way. For example, you may place these goals and aspirations above more important aspects of your life to the point where you will not be successful in any outlet of your life. Trust me, being in undergrad feels like being in a pressure-cooker sometimes. You feel like if you don’t get the best grades or experience, you will not become successful. Therefore, you react by putting most of your energy into your goals, and naturally, when you fall short sometimes (it’s okay, this leads to growth) you will question your entire identity, self-worth, and may even become depressed because your happiness was rooted in how you identified yourself or who you thought you were.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
When it comes to learning and life, there are two mindsets: a fixed mindset, and a growth mindset (you should look into this, khan academy also spoke about this concept). A fixed mindset is one that operates by thinking that one’s good work is attributed to he or she being “smart”. On the other hand, a growth mindset operates on the idea that one’s good work is attributed to being “hardworking”. Therefore, if someone with a fixed mindset encounters a failure, they may not think they are smart anymore, because this is how he or she placed their identity. However, if the person with the growth mindset encounters that same hardship, he or she will believe that the reason for the failure is because they may have not worked hard enough or had the right strategy. It also goes with many other labels, this was just a simple example.
Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
Why did I bring this up? Because NOT ONLY is rooting your identity in being the child of God so important, but the contrary is actually destructive to your success. Yes, working hard in school and prioritizing your goals is important, but if it’s done with the lens that “I am a Christian who wants to glorify God through the blessing of th education I was given”, it is much different than “I am smart and have to become a very successful _____”. It is all about your identity, and the way you think, because this will dictate every step you take. Surround yourself by others who have similar goals & identities is also key.
Placing your identity in Christ, and truly continuing your education through this lens is so important. On the other hand, placing your every ounce of worth in anything worldy will truly work against your worly and heavenly fullfillment.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Ultimately, your college years will challenge you in ways you never expected, but you will also bounce back in ways you never expected. Your identity is what will dictate your mindset, your coping mechanisms, and the way you stress/ celebrate. Putting God at the forefront of your mind will make your college experience the best it could be, both academically and socially. God is the One that has guided us until this moment, and identifying with our heavenly Father will not only continue to guide us through our troubles, but will also remind us who we are, why we are doing what we do, and what the True goal is.
What’s next? Yes, in theory, we want to place our identity in God, but what does this truly mean? It means spending time to form a closer relationship with Him through reading His Word, having a dialogue with Him, and keeping Him at the forefront of your mind in everything that you do. God bless you!!!