Everyone tells you to BE YOURSELF.
Unfortunately, “yourself” is not always an easy thing to discern, at least not for me. I’m 37 years old, and sometimes….sometimes I’m just not really sure I really know exactly who “I” am.
It’s funny, but don’t we always go to outward things to define us? –what we wear, who we call friends, how we style our hair, what we do with our free time:
…I’m a mom who doesn’t wear mom jeans.
…I like decorating with thrift shop finds.
…I love traveling.
…I’m all about talking with my hands.
…I don’t apologize for going deep.
…who “I am” is often summed up in a list of 10 things others may be surprised to learn about me. But really, I’m not the sum of my likes, my dislikes, and my accomplishments.
Maybe it’s because I’m heading to a conference next week where I will be introducing myself to hundreds of other blogging women, hoping to stand out as “myself.” Maybe it’s because I am in my late 30s, looking at the newborn stage on my horizon, all over again. Maybe it’s because my role in ministry life has shifted so drastically in the last year. Maybe it’s all of these things, but regardless, I’m wading through the details of what it is to “be yourself.”
“…too many of us are suffering from spiritual amnesia; an amnesia that has obscured our true identity as it’s been defined by the gospel.”
Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me 
It’s difficult to know how to be yourself if the self you are representing is the fearful, prideful, self-aggrandizing, approval-needy, idolizing, self-sufficient SELF that many of us know ourselves to be…on the inside.
But we need not represent ourselves. We are not our own. We’ve been bought with a price.
To represent Christ is not without a measure of holy fear, but we can stand strong and assured in our representation when we serve as a broken vessel, pieced and formed back together in the hands of our Maker, crafted to be perfectly suited for His purposes. Our vessel fails miserably to transfer the contents of our old self, but withstands beautifully the fullness of Christ in us. He fills our once broken cup and we overflow…pouring forth His fragrance and not our own. What others see is imperfection made beautiful and marked by the handiwork of God.
We are free…
to not be perfect
to not “know ourselves” confidently
to not stand on our self-assurance
to not be noticed or commended for our gifts
…because He has made us free…
to be a new creation
to reflect the redemptive work of Christ
to be satisfied in Him alone
to count it all loss
to be His beloved
to be living sacrifices
to be identified with the sufferings of Christ
It is okay to be a no one to everyone if you are someone to the Holy One. Being myself is not as important as BEING HIS.
So, in the whirlwind of wanting to be know among peers, to be understood by friends, to be noted for who you think you really are…settle in with this thought:
Being yourself is enough…when Jesus is ALL. Christ in you is enough.
All they need to see, all they need to know is Him. I can take all the time I need to figure out “who I am” (and it may just take me until eternity)…because being myself only makes sense when my self is hidden in the fullness of Him. Whether you are 17 or 37 or 77…there’s only one identity to secure, and it simply has nothing to do with the world you’ve created around you to define you; it has everything to do with who He’s created IN you and defined you to be at the Cross. Join me in praising Him and resting in that truth today!
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I think you live in my brain sometimes.
I was JUST wrestling with this question….and, as always, you so eloquently help me see the answer is HIM. I am HIS. Thank you for the reminder. You are such a blessing to me through your writing.
Oh Lori, I’m so glad you can relate!
I’m blessed to know God is faithfully at work in each of us!
I agree with Lori Raches. I think you live in my head. Thank you so much for this reminder. I am nervous about meeting 400 wonderful women next week and of course, know I don’t ‘measure up’. Thank you for the reminder.
That cracks me up, Teresa…I’m so glad that we are on the same page! I hope we get a chance to meet, and I pray that you will build the exact relationships the Lord has for you next week!
I don’t think it’s the fear of meeting everyone – I’m rather excited about that. I guess it’s once more letting go of my grip on the side of the pool so He can take me into deep waters. I have no idea what God’s doing with this blog thing and the unknown sometimes has be wild-eyed and wanting to quit. You’re reminder to us all about simply being His is a timely whisper from His Spirit for me. I’m grateful for the familiar release of laying back into His arms and trusting He will always keep me afloat. Thank you for today’s beautiful blessing. His.
I have no doubt the Lord will lead you and help you to discern the hows and whys for your blog as we learn and fellowship next week! Blessings to you!
You already know I love this
This speaks right to my heart today. I think we can confuse ourselves when we blend the conflicting messages around us and in us, with the gospel. I sometimes make up a version of who I am that resembles pure gospel truth but is really a messy discombobulated explanation. Funny how I think that by piecing it all together I can make sense of it. My identity makes most sense when I give up my understanding of who I am and realize it’s OK that only He knows. Best summed up-HIS. love you!
Love you, Libbs. I so agree…if we listen to the conflicting messages around us, we will end up totally confused! Praise the Lord we need not chase after any other identity!
What a wonderful, encouraging post. Thank you. I definitely feel like a “no-one” at times. Ok, most of the time. But I have really come to a place of being ok with that, because I know I belong to God. And He knows who I am and never forgets or ignores me. Thank you for sharing this today. It is such a great reminder!
Jolene, thank you for your vulnerability….I think we all feel that way so much, and yet, we are truly special, unique, forgiven, and greatly loved. That’s your identity and mine! Blessings to you.
Amen, Ruth, and the other ladies. I have no idea what to expect next week, but the thought has crossed my mind, “what if they don’t like me?”. Far too often I put the old me’s foot first, when my deepest desire is Him – not me, not my feet or hands, and certainly not my mouth. Ah, to be still and know the Lord, and be consumed by the new me, the Christ living in me.
It’s funny how many scenarios play out in our heads when we are entering uncharted territory! I have no idea what it will be like either, but I am seeking to place my hope on His unfailing love and not on others’ approval. What a great time we’ll have if we can focus on that!
This seems to be right where I’m at in my life, honestly I feel like I’ve been here most of my life. “Who am I?” “What defines me?” and I’ve struggled most recently since getting married, moving away from my family and putting a career on hold for my husband to pursue his. I could not be blessed with a better man. He understands my “sacrifice” and I love him and thank him for that, but silently I feel like I’ve lost myself. If anything, my time being away from home and a career has brought me even closer to Christ. I know now it’s what I needed and this post opened my eyes to the realization that I am His, I have been blessed beyond words, He has a great plan for me, and I can face each day with the peace and comfort in knowing that. Thank you!
Rachel, I so remember those early years of marriage, and feeling much the same way. Then again when I became a mom, and now, again, as roles and responsibilities change in my life. I think the Lord allows us to be in these uncomfortable times of feeling “undefined” as a person so that our only definition and association would be the name of Christ. That he would be our all in all! Thanks so much for sharing.
I’ve been praying for you this week, with the upcoming conference in mind, that God would give you eyes to see yourself as He sees you.
Thank you for the prayers, friend. I look forward to sharing with you of the Lord’s faithfulness!
God really used this to speak to me today, thank you!
Very well said Love. This brings to mind John the Baptist’s words- behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
And- He must increase, but I must decrease.