CassieOver the course of the past few years, something tangible has defined my “walk”–
I’ve learned, through Jesus Himself, that my identity does not and cannot come from my friends, my family, my jobs, my grade, my degree, my place of living… but ever and always in Jesus. Learning this, believing it, and allowing Him to found my life has absolutely changed every aspect of my life for the better– because I’m living according to something true, and much much bigger than those little pieces I might try to identify with.
This idea of identity in Christ was clear to me this morning, when I went to meet one of my dear friends, Sarah, for breakfast at one of my favourite cafes. I had gotten to spend the morning with Johnny, as he came home last night from Winnipeg, and every second back with my man has certainly felt like a dream that I want to take captive… every time I get to look into his eyes like a little blessing… hear his voice, his laugh, kiss his cheek…. I am so grateful for this compassionate, God-loving man, and his physical and spiritual presence in my life I give over to God every day. Not always successfully, because sometimes my excitement for us being together is something I identify with before identifying with Jesus, and I need to be humbled by Him and put in my place as His child and servant.
I had the privilege of talking with Sarah about these sorts of things– putting our identity in Jesus over anyTHING or anyONE– and just how daily the death of those other things could be. But how HE ALWAYS provides the strength and guidance.
The littlest things can seem so big. Like disruptions to my schedule, feelings of inadequacy, dwelling on uncertainty.
But what is the truth?
Because GOD is in control, dwelling on uncertainty is a waste of time. Dwelling on HIM is an investment in time.
After beautiful time with Sarah, I headed back home to have lunch with Johnny before checking out some potential houses for him. Johnny is here working for the whole summer, and looking for a sublet to rent while he’s here. Experiencing more frustration and struggle to find the right place for him than we may have anticipated, I’ve been praying for strength to be only encouraging in this time; and witnessed Johnny’s own confidence in the Lord’s timing in the midst of uncertainty. AND– HE is our unshakeable identity; not the perfect house.
Tonight, where I am a high school youth leader, the message given by one of our leaders was about this concept of identity, and Amanda’s words of vulnerability about her own walk in realizing that her identity was only meaningful when it was put in the ONLY eternal One was so impactful. I was convicted to repent of the areas in my own life in which I’d put my identity that weren’t Jesus, and encouraged to hear so many of the youth in the same.
Amanda focused on this passage from Matthew 7:
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
When our lives are built on Truth everlasting, nothing can shake our identity. What is your life built on?
