Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Do you have a secret identity? I’m not talking about being some kind of superhero. I’m talking about the identities you and I hide behind for most of our lives, sometimes without even realizing it.

Think about it: From an early age, many people in our lives try to tell us who we are. It may or may not be intentional, but they influence who we become and who we think we should be. Perhaps someone punished you at an early age by saying, “You will never amount to anything.” Or maybe you were really good at math, so your parents said something like, “You’re going to be an engineer someday.”

Even as adults, we can fall prey to who others say we are—a bad parent, lazy, or a liar. While I hope none of you have a secret identity as an assassin like Dan from The Family Plan, I believe we all carry some type of secret belief about who we are based on other people’s influence. God does not want this for us.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Just as Dan struggled to be free from his past identity and live the life he truly wanted, we can struggle to live the life God meant for us by believing who others say we are. Dan wanted a normal family life, but people from his past were not going to allow that to happen.

When he finally came clean to his family, he felt freedom and relief, but at that moment, it cost him what he loved most. Realizing who God says you are and trusting him with your life can definitely bring freedom and relief, but it may similarly come with pain and uncertainty at first. Often there is a price to pay to put old things behind us.

However, just as Dan discovered, the path to contentment is not found carrying the burden of a secret identity. Instead, it’s living faithfully as our true, unique selves—who God says we are.

Questions:
Have you been carrying the burden of living a life based on who someone else says you are?

Have you taken the time to discover who God says you are and learn what gifts you have?

Next Steps:
Release the secret identity label the world has placed on you, and discover who God says you are.

If you haven’t yet, go through GrowthTrack to discover your God-given gifts and how you can use them to find freedom and make a difference

Prayer:
Loving Father, living in this world can be difficult. It is sometimes easy for me to get caught up in listening to who others say I am. Please help me to remember who you say I am. Give me wisdom and courage to step out, even in scary or painful situations, and use the gifts you gave me to make a difference in other people’s lives. I love you, and I am grateful for who you made me to be. Help me to apply myself to glorify your name in all I say and do. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

This post was written by Ned Miller, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.