My Identity, His Creation

When we feel like we don't fit in, we can take heart, because we fit into God's glorious plan.

Let me tell you something about college kids: they are stylish. They keep up with current trends, craft unique outfits, and pick up styling tips from friends. I have found that this is especially prevalent in Christian circles.

During my second year of college, I started to feel insecure about my style. This statement might shock some, considering I won the “most stylish” award in my FFA chapter during high school. But my cowboy boots, wide-legged jeans, and sweaters did not quite fit the college status quo.

The enemy took this insecurity and ran with it, subconsciously feeding me lies that I was less recognizable as a Christian and didn’t fit in because of how I dressed. This led to a mini-identity crisis, causing me to mimic the style of my Christian friends by adding more soft colors and trendy pieces into my wardrobe.

All in all, it was exhausting and left me feeling worse than before.

I think many of us can recall a time when we felt as though we didn’t fit in. It is important to note that nobody in my life made me feel this way. It was a tactic of the enemy, used to take my eyes off Jesus and to prevent me from becoming the person God intended me to be.

The following summer, I moved out of state for an internship and learned so much about myself. I found that by being who God made me to be, I had something unique to contribute to relationships and the workplace. I didn’t have to contort myself into the person that I thought people wanted me to be. In fact, doing so would have been counterproductive.

When I came back to school, God kept confirming this truth in my life. Although some days are harder than others, I have made a point to authentically live as myself. Now that I’ve made this choice, I have less anxiety, flourishing friendships, and I have experienced God on a whole new level.

Looking back, my insecurity about my style was only the byproduct of a deeper problem: I believed that I must fit into a certain mold to be liked and accepted by others.

The Lord created us uniquely (Psalm 139) and for a purpose only we can fulfill as we live for His Kingdom. Ephesians 2:10 says, “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.”

Our identity is not rooted in the things we wear, the social circles we are a part of, or our career. Rather, it is rooted in Christ, the one who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.

Colossians 2:6-7 says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

When we let the Lord saturate our lives, He changes our hearts, and we become the person He created us to be. Living in that persona is one of the most freeing things we can experience, and it allows us to step into our God-given purpose.

God needs all sorts of people to carry out His mission here on Earth. How can we spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth if we all have the same job?

Anne Wilson is one of my favorite music artists and someone I extremely look up to. She recently spoke about this topic on a podcast by sharing an encouraging word another artist spoke over her on stage: “She said to me, ‘Anne, you can only be you. There’s only one of you, and you have to stay authentic to who you are because you can only fulfill this mission that God has placed in front of you. Only you can do that.’”

Romans 12:4-8 drives this point home. It says, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

I don’t know what all God has in store for me, but I know that He has given me a unique set of talents and giftings to accomplish the purpose He created me for. Each day, I commit to proudly following the Lord (clomping cowboy boots and all) and stewarding the responsibilities God has given me.

Because it’s true for me, it’s true for you too. How will you tap into your authentic, God-given self today?