Identity

I’m newly engaged. J This means that I still get a thrill every time I look at my left hand and see my engagement ring. I realized that I love looking down and seeing my ring for several reasons. I love it because it means that I’m marrying my best friend. I love it because it is beautiful and sparkles in the light. Even more than that, I love it because it is from Aaron. It is a constant reminder that he loves me, that he isn’t going to stop loving me, and that one day (soon!) I am going to be his wife.

It’s a (small) reminder that a part of my identity is in Aaron—I’m his fiancée, and one day I’ll be his wife.

AH! That thrills me.

Here’s the thing though. I’ve been thinking, and my question is this: Do I get a thrill out of being identified with Christ? Do I remember daily that my identity is in Christ? Am I excited about the fact that I am the daughter of my Heavenly Father, that I am a child of God?

I’m realizing how important these questions are, because while I love identifying myself with my future husband, ultimately my identity is not in Aaron.

My identity is (and should always be) found in Christ alone.

When I committed my life to Christ, my old life was washed away—I am a new creation! The old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am also a child of God—1 John 3:1 says “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

I am a child of God.

Therefore, my identity should be found in Him.

This world changes constantly—anchoring my identity in something or someone in this world would be a bad idea. Like C.S. Lewis puts it, “Don’t let your happiness depend on something you may lose.”

I believe the same could be said about what we place our identity in.

God does not change. He is not like the shifting shadows (Hebrews 1:17). Hebrews 13:8 says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

My identity can and should be rooted in Christ—because He is my Creator, He is my Savior, He is my Redeemer, and He is the One who never changes. My identity is the fact that I belong to Christ. I am not my own; I was bought at a price—that price being Jesus’ precious blood. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

The good thing about finding your identity in Christ is that Jesus is greater than any circumstance, any situation, any darkness, any happiness, etc.

He is greater.

Mark Driscoll says this, “Our identity is not in our joy, and our identity is not in our suffering. Our identity is in Christ, whether we have joy or are suffering.”

Mmm. I think I need that reminder, daily.

My identity is not in my circumstances, not in my joy or my suffering, not in my job, not in my family, and even though I love to look at my engagement ring, my identity is not in my fiancé.