As a little girl, I felt fearful and insecure.

Having no answers at such a young age, I constantly put my mom and brother on a pedestal. I spent many days watching them and figuring out how to please them. They seemed to have it all—good looks, brains, athleticism, a good sense of humor. But most of all, they possessed great conviction in themselves. They seemed to know who they were and were confident in their identity.

As I grew, my profound uncertainty drove me to emulate others. I spent many days seeking to be someone I wasn’t. I wanted to be a popular, smart, award-winning athlete with all the attention like some kids at school.

Then, providentially, God moved and gave me what I thought I wanted. Although still not a believer, God allowed me to be part of the “in crowd” in college. I rushed a very popular sorority and was accepted. I thought I had it made. Although I became more confident, I soon learned an invaluable lesson.

The sorority I joined was all about partying, acting silly, and doing immoral things. Uncomfortable with this behavior, I soon realized this was not who I wanted to be. Consequently, after two years of membership, I quit the sorority. God was at work, showing me that all this worldliness was vanity of vanities—a chasing after the wind.

A year after graduating from college, while still seeking my identity, I heard the good news of Jesus Christ and became a believer. I now had a true and meaningful identity. God’s Word was full of accurate declarations of who I was as a child of God. This is just what I had been looking for. Now, it is Jesus Christ I seek to emulate as I live out whom God designed me to be.

Make sure your quest for identity involves who you are in Christ.