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.
Page Gyatt has been writing devotions for some time. She is a Compel Writer’s training member (affiliated with Proverbs 31 ministries) and has entered various writing challenges over the years. Recently, her testimony was printed in a book called Stories of Grace: Changed Hearts Changed Lives by Burke Community Church Women’s Ministry. She was also one of many authors. You can contact her at pglovejoyhope@gmail.com.