I am Defined

To be defined or explained in some form is what we all seem to be in search of. We long to be understood by those surrounding us so that eventually, in some sense, we may come to understand our own selves as well. We seek to find our identity in unsettled factors, such as our paychecks or relationship status’. It is believed that our value lies in our college degrees and job experiences. We are determined that our worth ultimately rests in our experiences, belongings, and popularity amongst our peers.

I am here to tell you today that though these above factors may be a part of my story, they are not the total sum of my story. I am not identified by the car I drive, the degree I have earned, the number of followers I have on Instagram, or the job I am employed with. I am not defined by factors which have the potential to be here one day and gone the next. My identity is found, rather, in the surest thing of all: Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

In a world which is ever-changing in every direction, I am so grateful that my identity rests in a never-changing source. You can place every last ounce of effort you have and every minute of your day into your job until it entirely consumes who you are, but what if that job was one day pulled out from under you and gone, just like that? What would you have left? If your worth rests in your relationship status on Facebook, how will your sense of self-worth hold up should that relationship not work out for you? You see, the beautiful thing about discovering our absolute worth in Christ is that even if we were to lose our job, our home, our vehicle, or every follower we have on Twitter, our value does not diminish even a little. When your worth rests in an unshakable source, not even the wind or rain can affect it.

Today, I want to challenge each of you to find your identity in the most secure source… in the constant One who loves you most. It is in Him that we are most accurately and best defined.

“Define yourself as one radically loved by God. This is your true self. Every other identity is an illusion.” Brennan Manning