Where Can I Find the Truth of My Identity?
From the early age of five years old, I learned to root my identity in what I could do. It started as early as the T-ball days! Maybe you are like me and have been conditioned to see your value in terms of your productivity and talent. I’m here to tell you the good news- that you are more than your performance! It is possible to receive God’s unconditional love for you in our brokenness. It starts with rooting our identity in the truth. Let’s dive into how we can stay rooted in the truth in such a loud world. God gives us tangibles to stay close to him- I will focus on our need for scripture, community, and the sacraments.
First and foremost, God wants to speak to us through Scripture. When we start to believe lies in our heads that tell us “you’re no good” or “you’ll never be enough” we can counter these lies with the truth of God’s word. When we bring our thoughts and fears to the surface, God can speak directly to those fears and remind us of our identity which is rooted in His love.
Secondly, we are made for community. God can speak truth into our lives through a good friend, family member, or mentor. We have been created to need others which is why cultivating strong relationships is essential to our human formation. Instead of remaining in isolation we can bring everything to the light!
Third, God gives the sacraments because he knows our desires from intimacy. He is the one who placed those desires in our hearts!! Not only do we need good food to nourish our bodies but we also need Christ to nourish us at mass and to receive his mercy through confession.
Friends, we are made for greatness! We are made for mission and to become the best versions of ourselves. It is easy to get discouraged when we fail to measure up the person we want to be. Being too hard on myself is something I constantly struggle with, but I keep coming back to God to remind me of my identity! So next time you are feeling discouraged, ask yourself if you have been nourishing your faith. Am I praying? Am I talking to my family and friends? Am I receiving the Sacraments? Like anything important in life, we must be intentional and invest. Invest in your faith. I promise it will be worth it.
“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.” With that, never give up!! Always live in the hope that Jesus has a plan for your life and wants you to keep going.
