Who Does God Say I Am?

There are many labels that people give each other or that we give ourselves - but what does God say about us?

Many people across the globe struggle with their identity. They don't like how they look or what other people think about them. Maybe they don't think highly of themselves at all. It's such a big deal these days to make your life or yourself look amazing for everyone who is tuning in on social media. What would they say if you didn't have an over the top post? What if you stopped your "story" and posted something real instead? Let's face it, we all have times where we seek the approval of others - even if it's not all the time.

When I scroll back on my Facebook or Instagram profile to when I was a younger teenager, I can see that I posted a lot of things. I used to change my profile picture monthly or even a few times a month. I would make multiple posts on both accounts in one day. How have I changed since then? Now, I post to Facebook occasionally - some weeks more than others. I have posted on Instagram twice this year after taking a year break from using it. My profile picture has been the same since the beginning of August. I've realized since I was a teenager that it doesn't really matter how much I post on social media, the right people will still love me for who I am. My friends don't like me any less when I tell them I can't even remember my log in for Snapchat. It doesn't matter to them. Why am I telling you about my social media habits? To share that for some people, this stuff means a lot. I remember every time I posted something on Instagram, I would be waiting by my phone for the notifications saying someone liked my picture. It was a big part of my identity. I know I'm not the only one...

"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." Ephesians 2:10

No matter what others might say about us or what we say about ourselves, God says that we are His masterpiece. A masterpiece can be defined as a work of outstanding artistry or workmanship. The Starry Night was Vincent van Gogh's masterpiece. The Mona Lisa was Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. We are God's masterpiece. Nothing can change His mind on that one. Many people my age or younger have become so consumed with what other people think about them, it's almost unhealthy. Honestly, how can you go through life constantly trying to please others and the image they have of you? You really can't. Back to my story from earlier about social media - do you want to know how I got to the point I'm at now? I finally realized I can't please everybody. I can't impress everybody. I can't fill everybody's expectations they have of me. It took me a while to get that realization, but when I did I felt way better than I had been while posting all of this stuff to social media. One of my favorite quotes says, "Don't change yourself so that other people will like you, be yourself so that the right people will love the real you." I wish I knew who said it, but everything I can find of that quote doesn't include the person who said it. It is so true, though. You don't need to change yourself for other people. Truthfully, it's much harder living your made up personality for other people than just being yourself. Do you know who will always love you for who you are? God.

That's right! You don't ever need to change yourself for Him because He loves you no matter what. He sent His only son to die on the cross as a sacrifice for your sins long before you were ever born. That's how much He loves you. Could you imagine what life would be like if God had all these stipulations for giving you His love? I can't even begin to imagine how that would be. God loves us way too much to limit His love for us. In a post I made back in March of 2022, I highlighted Lamentations 3:22. That verse says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;". Have you ever looked up the meaning of steadfast? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as, "Firmly fixed in place; immovable". That is God's love for us. He has an infinite amount of love for us and that amount is not moving. Nothing we ever say or do can get that amount of love to move.

"Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God." Romans 15:7

How can we stop worrying what others think about us? Let's start by taking the advice of this verse and accept others in the way that Christ accepted us. He took us in just as we were - no judgement or anything. That's how we should accept everyone. When you stop expecting so much of others, you'll find that you won't feel the pressure of having to live up to the expectations that others might have of you. When you're only radiating God's love, you'll find that you don't really need to impress anyone other than God. In the end, He's the only one that really matters - so why waste time stressing about impressing all these other people?

In this age of technology and social media, it's so easy to become overwhelmed by your self image. When you start to feel overwhelmed by what others are saying about you, remember whose opinion really matters. God says you are strong. Loved. Beautiful. Priceless. He says you are free. Victorious. Chosen. His precious child. God says we are His masterpiece. If you ever feel anything other than what God says you are, take a break from what you're doing and look in the Bible. You can search up verses about who God says we are. You can even just search online about what God says about us - there are plenty of great lists on other Christian blogs. I also recommend, as I always do, to send a prayer up to God about your current situation. He always loves to hear from you - even if it's not always the good parts of your life. Ask Him to give you His peace and to help you find rest. Ask Him to help you remember what He says about you, not what others say. I pray you will remember God and His steadfast love for you the next time you feel anxious about what others think about you. I pray that you will remember that you're His child. Because that's all that matters ♡