Who Told You You Were___?

Smart
Funny
Athletic
Musical
Gifted
Personable
Strong
Courageous
 
Lazy
Depressed
Clumsy
Weak
Ugly
Unwanted
Unlikeable
Unlovable
Unforgivable
 
Whether what you were told was encouraging or hurtful, it doesn’t matter, because these attributes aren’t who you are.
 
My youngest wrestled his last wrestling match and will be graduating this spring, and his becoming an adult has sent me into a life crisis, because for the past twenty-plus years, I’ve identified as Chris, Jimmy, and Matthew’s mom. Knowing that I’ll soon be an empty-nester, creeps in questions like is there something next, whether I’ve served my purpose, or is the meaningful part of my life over? Here’s what God has been showing me, and I wanted to share it with you, too.
 
God defines you, not the world.
 
Our value doesn’t come from our job title, skills, accomplishments, talents, or who we’ve raised. It comes from God’s love for you. God adopts you as His son or daughter when you believe in Jesus. When you ask Jesus into your heart, a powerful and amazing transformation happens, whether you feel it or not. You become a new person. Your heart of stone is removed, and you’re given a heart of flesh. Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, and His love for you doesn’t change.
 
The world may tout your accomplishments or what you can provide, but God accepts you as you are. Think of an ultrasound image of a baby in the mom’s belly. The picture shows mostly just the head and torso. The baby isn’t fully developed and hasn’t done anything yet, except probably cause its mama to have morning sickness, but the baby is loved. Not much is known yet about the baby, its personality, what he or she will do or grow up to be, but God knows the child’s full potential. He knit the baby together in its mother’s womb, and His works are wonderful (Psalm 139:13-14). God sees who we are still becoming. 
 
We might have different seasons or graduate to different levels, but God’s not done with us yet. His work continues in us until we join Him in heaven. Philippians 1:6 says, “That he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” So we are to keep serving, praising, and pressing on, because Psalm 150:6 states, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” If you’re reading this, you still have breath, so keep praising. There is still great work to do.
 
When Jesus returns, and the entire world burns and falls away, there will be no sin to cling to or success to hold onto. If our definition of self is based on our intelligence, sports, music, or our accomplishments rather than on Jesus, then we’ll be an empty shell. But if we base our life on God’s love, then when anything not of Jesus fades away, all that will be left will be Jesus and us.
 
And His arms will be open wide.