Introduction
Who are you? What do you stand for? What do you want out of life? What do you want to be known for?
When someone asks us that question, the first thing we typically mention is one of the duties or roles we perform daily. I’m a doctor. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I’m a firefighter. I’m a writer. But, that’s actually not who we are; that’s what we do.
It’s understandable that our response is to tell someone what we do. It’s as natural as breathing because what we do, well, it’s what we do every day. Whether we like what we do or not, it can’t be what defines us. If it is, our identity will be misplaced because our jobs and roles will change throughout our lives. And with a misplaced identity, we live a life with little contentment and one always striving for acceptance.
Defining ‘identity’ and mental health
So first, what is identity? What does that even mean? Typical definition is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. More than that identity is the way that you think about yourself, the way the world views you, and characteristics that define you. Labels and job positions may pop into the mind’s eye: hippie, Republican, techy, stay-at-home mom, Christian, soccer dad, Democrat, entrepreneur. Perhaps hobbies like sports or baking and fashion choices, trendy or casual, help you define where you fit into the mix.
The 17th century French philosopher René Descartes summed it up beautifully when he wrote, “I think, therefore I am.”
Our identity plays a huge role in our mental health because it’s about our ability to both understand who we are and how satisfied we are with who we are. Self-identity is closely linked and very important to good mental health. For example, having a positive self-identity can help improve your mental health leading to greater confidence. On the other hand, a negative self-identity can lead to a lack of self-worth and spur mental health problems such as anxiety and insecurity.
Being consumed by what people think of you is the fastest way to forget what God thinks of you. — Craig Groeschel
Know Who You Are
As Christ followers, our identity comes from who God says we are, not who others say we are. Yet, every day we believe things about ourselves that are untrue. These untruths don’t line up with the Truth about us according to the Bible. Not only is it easy to assume our identities from what we do—often, we’re labeled by those around us:
Loser, Quitter, Alcoholic, Cheater, Lazy, Workaholic, Nobody
Those words, those people, and those descriptions are not who we are. If you’ve never understood your true identity as a Christian, the Bible will help you begin this lifelong pursuit of knowing your real self.
God calls you:
His Child, Forgiven One, His Masterpiece, New in Christ, More Than a Conqueror
Knowing who we are as Christ followers is essential in our walk with Jesus. When we know who we are, we’ll know what to do.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
And the challenge for all of us, I'd offer, is to strive to see in one another the full depths of each other, rather than categorizing one another with a single word or label, or assuming we know someone because of a label that has been affixed to them.
Reflect
How about you? Who are you and is there a label that you could stand to lose, expand upon, or add to?
What roles or labels have been given to you that you love? (i.e., father, teacher, friend, beautiful, athletic.)
Is there a negative label or role that has followed you most of your life? Who gave it to you—others or self?
You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman. — Max Lucado
I Am God’s Workmanship
The human body is fascinating. Not just in the way it looks but in the way it manages all of the systems. Take illnesses, for instance. When a foreign object, like a germ, gets into our body, our white blood cells congregate to eradicate the germ. Most of the time, the germ is annihilated and we stay healthy.
Or take a bone in the human body when it’s been broken. Bone repair begins within a few hours of the injury. A blood clot forms, cells are sent in to clean up the area, and new blood vessels are formed to expedite the healing process. Collagen moves in and forms a callus, which mimics a new bone, but is much softer. This holds it all in place while the new bone forms.
Does all of that just happen? No, this type of precision in forming the human body and the ways it works was created by God. And because of that, we are considered God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. We are literally God’s works of art.
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
But we don’t always feel like it, do we? On any given day, we…
...complain about our personalities.
...wished we were taller.
…aspire to have someone else’s body.
...prefer to be gifted like our friend.
God didn’t make a mistake in creating you. He did not miscalculate any part of bringing you into existence. He knew every aspect of your being before you took a breath of air outside your mother’s womb. He set your hair texture, eye color, height, and personality makeup. And in doing all of this in His perfect way, He knew exactly how He would use your unique composition to impact our world.
So, the next time you feel bad about yourself or wish you looked different, remember that God did not make a mistake. Quite the contrary. You are His work of art. You are His workmanship.
Reflect
In your own words, write down what “I am God’s workmanship” means to you.
Repeat “I am God’s workmanship” throughout your day — set a timer and say it every hour so that it will be deeply rooted in you. Write it on a card and place it where you can see it often.
Think of a situation you have faced or will face where you can apply this truth.
Going forward, begin each day by reciting these truths about who you are in Christ and watch your mind transform dramatically.
Resources
Who Am I? Self-Identity and Mental Health, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/test-case/201012/who-am-i-self-identity-and-mental-health
Building a healthy self-identity, https://www.healthassured.org/blog/building-a-healthy-self-identity
Devotion: Who I Am in Christ, https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/17170-who-i-am-in-christ/
Mabel Martinez-Almonte, MA, OTR/L, NCC
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Disclaimer: The content on this blog is generated for entertainment or/and informative purposes, but not to be perceived as professional or medical advice in regard to health or finances, or any other field.
