Identity is defined as being who or what a person is. But what happens when our identity is hard to grasp? How do we cope with not knowing who we are? Usually, it starts with us finding out the source of our identity. Our identity can be placed in three categories: as what others say about you, what you say about you, and what God says about you. Our identity can also be conditional, like when we feel out of place or not worthy of love. We can even lose our identity due to certain issues and circumstances in our lives. Our identity can be anything, and it can be based on anything. But usually, the best way to measure ourselves is in what God says about us because it holds scars and bruises that neither one of the other sources of identities holds.

In reference to what others say about you, your identity can be formed on objectivity and lies. What others say about you can come from a mistake that you made, a way you said something, and even something as small as how you dress. The way others perceive you is often through the lens of how they see themselves. They either see something in you that they admire, that mirrors themselves, or that they feel they can't possibly possess. When we place our identity on what others say out us, we tend to chase after the things that are not good for us. We try to gain likes, acclaim, and popularity because that is all our identity is based on receiving.

What you say about yourself, your identity can be formed on emotions and circumstances. Oftentimes emotions feel overwhelming, and out of control. They come at the most inopportune times and take us farther than where we are willing to go. Emotions when it comes to our identity, shape our identity in either negative or positive ways. Because our emotions fluctuate so does our identity. Also, what we say about ourselves can also be based on circumstances. Circumstance can either be good or bad but either way our identity changes because of how good things around us are going. Seasons change, circumstances change and emotions change. And when our identity constantly changes like this, we no longer have a solid basis of where our identity lies.

Lastly, what God says about you outweighs all of these other ways our identity is formed. One reason is that what God says about us does not fluctuate. It does not change. It does not focus on what others say about you, it is not based on objectivity and definitely not lies. With God we don’t have to gain or receive anything. We just are, because He is. Also, what God says about you is not based on emotions and circumstances. Yes, Jesus had many emotions, but those emotions never told Him who He was. Even Jesus' circumstances never defined Him, they were just tools that bought God glory. As Jesus is so we ought to also be. Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." This is how we are supposed to see our identity. We our supposed to let the identity that God so often speaks about in His word, filter out what others say about us, and what we say about ourselves.

Also, God's identity of us is solid. Psalm 1:3, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."This is who we become when our identity is placed in the right hands. It is no longer about us but about God. When our identity is placed in God, our lives become strong towers sifted through nail-scarred hands. When we know whose we are, we hold ourselves accountable for the lies we have believed our whole lives. Knowing who we are in Christ is a weapon against everything and everyone that comes against us. So today, ask God what He says about you, I guarantee you He will reveal how powerful His identity of us really is.

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light"