Who Do You Say I Am?
Have you heard the song “You Say” by Lauren Daigle? I want to encourage you with her words and God’s words today.
In our society we are bombarded with lies, discouragements, words that tear down, comparisons, and negativity. People make hurtful comments to one another to make themselves feel better. It’s easy to lose sight of who we are because we have so many people trying to tell us who we should be.
There are a few questions I want you to consider today. The first is a deep one…
Who am I?
I know, I know. It’s a loaded question but one we need to meditate on! Who you are is different from who your best friend is, or your coworker, or the barista at the coffee shop. You were knit together in your mother’s womb and were created to be uniquely you. Make a list of the qualities that make you, you. Start with titles: I am a sister/brother, I am a mother/father, I am a daughter/son, etc. List as many as come to mind. Then move on to positive characteristics that describe you: I am kind, I am joyful, I am thoughtful, etc. Again, write as many as you can think of and don’t feel guilty for the list of attributes. Remember you were created by God who is himself good, so you must be good as well.
The second question to consider is…
Who do You say I am?
“You” being God. If you believe God is the creator of the universe, a truth teller, a father, a forgiver, YOUR creator then knowing who He says you are is of utmost importance. Lauren Daigle did some of the grunt work for us and tells us who God says we are. In her lyrics she sings, “You say I am loved (1 John 4:8) when I can’t feel a thing. You say I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10) when I think I am weak. You say I am held (Psalm 34:18) when I am falling short, and when I don’t belong, oh, you say I am yours (John 1:12-13), and I believe.” These lyrics just scratch the surface of who God says you are. Isn’t that crazy?! There is so much more He wants us to know about who we are, and the way to discover that is by learning more about who He is.
I have two recommendations for you as you seek out the answer to “Who do You say I am?” The first is spend some time reflecting on this question. Ask God to reveal who He says you are. Write about it, pray about it, listen for answers to it. While there are general truths in His word, there are unique truths about YOU that you need to hear directly from Him. The best way to hear them is by writing or journaling about this question often.
The next recommendation I have is to study out the character of Jesus. The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell the story of Jesus’s life and ministry from four different perspectives. I would start by reading through these and then turn to a book or devotional. A few that have been recommended to me are: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, A Case For Christ by Lee Strobel, The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, Stop Calling me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer, The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, Desiring God by John Piper, Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldridge, and The Burden is Light by John Tyson to name a few.
If we don’t know who we are, or who we were created to be, we will begin to believe the lies thrown at us every day. Find confidence in the truths that God tells you, and in the truths you know about yourself. Hang in there friend, and remember that you are loved.
Peace, love, and truths about you,
Hala