Who Are You?
Finding Your Identity in Being a Child of God
by
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You may have seen the movie Eat Pray Love. When I began the journey of “finding myself” in God, this movie was an avenue that God used to teach me. It is a movie about a woman, played by Julia Roberts, who comes to a place in her life where she is finding out who she is. Her whole life she has had a dream of traveling so she decides to travel across the world for a year to find out who she is. The first place she goes is Italy. In one of these scenes, she is at a restaurant with her new friends. They are getting to know her. Someone sitting next to her asks her what word would describe who she is. She thinks about the question for a while and responds with “writer.” After all, that is what she was doing for her career. A man sitting next to her responds:
“That’s what you do. That’s not who you are.”
So the woman continues on through the movie to find the answer to the question of who she is apart from what she does. As I watched this scene in the movie, my eyes were filled with tears. I began to ask myself the question “Who am I apart from what I do?” “Who am I apart from the areas I try to perform in?” I had a very hard time identifying anything. I believe a lot of us define ourselves in what we do rather than in who we are. I began to process this question, and a phrase continued to come to my mind over and over and over again….
A child of God…
I am a child of God.
That is who I am.
As the concept began to sink in, my mind began traveling a mile a minute to determine what that really means. What does it really mean to be a child of God? What does it mean to have our full security and foundation in being a child of God?
It seems that society teaches us to put our identity in everything but him. When we watch commercials on TV, we find ourselves wanting the next big purchase that will make us happy and when we finally get it, it always falls short of what we’re really searching for deep down. When we watch movies and TV shows we see identities in people’s professions, hobbies, financial status, body image, spouses, and children. Again, they all seem to fall short of the peace our heart desires.
Even within our churches today, we find ourselves putting identities in church “stuff” instead of God. We see identities being found in people’s ministries instead of the God that desires to be glorified in their ministry. We see identities being found in the individual church itself, church programs, and in other people within the church. However, when we stop, slow down, and really listen to what our heart’s desire is, we find that none of these things or people are enough to fill that deep desire that we are longing to fulfill.
There is a difference between having a relationship with God and having your identity in God. To have your identity in someone means they define who you are and your self-worth. Your sense of security is found in that person. There is more to risk in finding your identity in God than in just having a relationship with him. However, there is also more to gain. We will discuss this concept more in later chapters.
Do you know who you are? Do you put your identity in someone or something other than God? Maybe you want your identity to be in being a child of God, but you don’t know how or where to start. As we begin this journey, imagine someone you just met asking you to describe who you are in a few words. What would you honestly say? Write it below:
I believe that the Lord wants more than anything else for our hearts to be fully his. I encourage you as we close this first chapter to really open up your ears, heart, and mind to what he may want to reveal to you. There may be something very near to your heart that he wants to show you, even right now. Listen and experience all he has for you as his child.
Chapter 1 Reflection Questions
1. If you were to describe what your identity is in today honestly, how would you describe it?
2. What have you observed society and the media teaching you to put your identity in?
3. In what way do you think having your identity in God would affect your daily life?
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About the Book
Who are you? What is your identity in? Identity defines you and defines your self-worth. So often, we define ourselves by what we do—our careers, financial statuses, families, and interests. None of those things are bad in and of themselves. When they become our identities, however, they fall short of what our hearts were created for. We were created to find our security and self-worth through God alone. Only in that identity will we find the fullness of peace and rest in our hearts.
In Who Are You? author Stacy Miller takes readers on a journey to discover who they really are as children of God. Throughout the journey, Miller explores topics such as balance, the condition of the heart, Jesus’ interactions with children in Scripture, pouring out pain to God, worry and fear, individual uniqueness, freedom in all things, and dreams. Questions at the end of each chapter help the reader reflect more deeply about the chapter’s subject.
When we begin to feel our full security and identity in God, we begin to experience true peace and restoration. Miller’s prayer is that Who Are You? will take you at least one step closer to finding yourself as God’s child.
About the Author
Stacy Miller practices professional counseling. She specializes in working with children, teenagers, women, and families. Her passion is helping people of all ages experience emotional healing and restoration of their hearts. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, and their dog, Sebastian.