Living Changed: Embracing IdentityՕրինակ

Changing Our Inner Dialogue

When you’re asked to introduce yourself, what comes to mind? 

My inner dialogue wasn’t always a true reflection of the woman God made me to be. Without His help to change my inner dialogue, my answer might easily be something like this: “I’m a 45-year-old mom with two kids who’s not as young as she used to be and has the grey hair and wrinkles to prove it. I’ve been married almost 25 years, even though I yell too much. According to my doctor, I’m overweight. I can’t breathe when I run, and I prefer candy and potato chips to spinach. I’m a pastor at my church, but I’m completely unqualified and have too much in my past to really be effective in ministry.” 

While that response might cover my marital status, weight, gender, age, job, and some of the lies the world tells me, it doesn’t describe who I really am. While some of those things are true about me, they’re not what truly matters. They are simply circumstances, and not my identity. 

The truth is that first and foremost, I am a child of God. I was made on purpose for a purpose. I am a beautiful masterpiece, artfully knit together by the Creator of the universe. I know that now, but the transition from that first response to this second one didn’t happen overnight. 

When I first felt called into women’s ministry, I felt anything but lovely. Standing on a stage and telling women they are beautifully made in God’s image was incredibly difficult when I did not feel it was true of me. I asked God to help me see what He sees when He looks at me, and I put my trust in His ability to change my perspective. 

After years of practicing surrender and trust, I’m now able to see myself as beautiful. It’s not dependent on what is reflected in the mirror. It comes from an inner peace and acceptance that He doesn’t make mistakes. It’s enough that He created me and calls me beautiful.

Embracing who God says we are changes our confidence. Knowing He is good and believing that we were created exactly as He intended, is life giving. When we grasp how much He loves us, just as we are, it becomes possible for us to better love ourselves. Changing our inner dialogue isn’t immediate, and we can’t do it on our own. We have to ask Him for help. 

Action Step:

If you’re struggling with your identity, ask God to show you how He sees you. Ask Him to help you identify the lies you’ve believed about yourself and begin to replace those lies with His truth. He’ll be there for you as long as it takes, time and time again, until you believe you are worthy, beautiful, capable, and lovable. Regardless of how long you’ve followed Jesus, if your self talk is anything less than what He says about you, then there’s work to be done. Press in and ask God to help you truly embrace your identity in Christ.