Mistaken Identity

Mistaken Identity

Karen Ehman

I poured a cup of coffee and logged on to my laptop to peek at a friend’s Facebook page. When I tried hopping over to see her latest pictures, I couldn’t get her name to appear in the search bar. I was puzzled. This had always worked before. Glancing at the top of the screen, I realized I wasn’t logged in to my own account. My son had forgotten to sign off when he’d been on earlier so I was actually logged in as him instead.

I couldn’t get where I wanted to go because I had mistaken my identity.

With a quick click of a mouse, I switched accounts and used Facebook as “me.” Operating under the right identity, I was free to view pages, leave comments, and get where I wanted to go.

Sometimes in life we encounter the same issue—we don’t realize we’re operating under a mistaken identity. We log in to our day and encounter wrong thinking that makes us forget who we really are. This may happen when a voice from the past or our own negative self-talk urges us to forget our identity in Christ. We’re blocked by doubt and can’t get where God is calling us to go—to a life lived with our security and value rooted deep in His thoughts toward us.

Instead we hear: You can’t do that. You aren’t good enough. You’ll never change. Why can’t you be more like your sister? If only you were more __________ instead of so ________.

When statements of self-doubt claim our identity and discouragement sets in, we need to log out of the lies and log in to God’s truth. It’s the only way we will discover and live into our true identity in Christ—and the only way to navigate our lives according to God’s Word.

Here are some truths I tell myself to remember my true identity: I am the daughter of the Most High God. I am loved, redeemed, and renewed. I am chosen, blameless, and holy. I was bought at a great price. God knows me thoroughly and yet loves me completely. He has plans for my future that include hope, not harm; blessings, not banishment. I belong to Him.

Jesus said, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says” (John 8:47). We need to listen to God’s Word, let it take root in our minds, and allow it to eradicate any untrue, destructive thought patterns. Replacing the negative chatter with assuring Scriptures will gently but firmly remind us who we are as children of God.

Yes, if we belong to God we will hear what He says. As we log in to His truths daily, we will no longer mistake our true identity. We will know the confident reality of who we are in Christ.

Dear Lord, when I am tempted to think of myself in a way that is neither healthy nor true, remind me both of who I am and to Whom I belong. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

Remember who you are in Christ in order to avoid assuming a mistaken identity.

REFLECT

What are some of the circumstances in which you typically find yourself doubting your true identity?

RESPOND

Make a list of Scripture phrases you can find of who we are in Christ. (Examples: chosen, holy, dearly loved, etc.) Whenever you are tempted to believe the opposite of any of these (I am rejected, unloved, etc.), repeat to yourself—out loud if you must—what God really thinks of you.

POWER VERSES

Romans 1:6; 1 John 3:1