What is your name?

 identity

One of the biggest struggles l've had growing up is knowing who l am, what defines me .I was always so focused on trying to fit l would say l like things l didn't really enjoy from taking up sports l didn't like in primary school  to listening to music l hated in high school ,l bent myself into so many different shapes just to be like everyone else. What l didn't realize was that l was actually struggling with identity , I didn't know who l was. It didn't help that at the time my relationship with God wasn't the best , l was a lukewarm Christian so l had no reference point nothing l just became a "people pleaser." 

As l began to grow in my faith and improve my relationship with God l began to realize l did not know who l was or what l was doing. I didn't know my own identity if l even had one , then it hit me one day when l was reading Genesis and l got to the part where Jacob fought with the angel for the entire night (Genesis 32:22-32) . In verse  27 the angel asks Jacob one very simple but powerful question," What is your name? " l sat with this question and it resonated with me so deeply. What is my name? And just like any person would answer Jacob goes on to say His name was Jacob and in that moment his identity was revealed to him. The angel replied, From now on, your name will no longer be Jacob. You will be called Israel, because you have wrestled with God and with men, and you have won.” 

This is when l realized that my identity is in Christ and nothing more. There was me before l truly understood and knew God a very confused ,anxious sad girl but then there is me now A Child of God and that is my identity .That is who l am. I noticed a trend in the bible , mostly in the new testament where there's  a person before their encounter with God and a person after. When Jesus met His disciples he changed their names they were no longer fishermen that was not who they were but instead they became fishers of men . That was their identity now ,the identity they found in Christ because identity is only found in Him. Simon was renamed Peter, and James and John were renamed Sons of thunder.

What better place to search for your identity that in Him who knew you before you were born, who set you apart and called you by your name. Whos grace meets you at your point of confusion and need. Who has all the answers to our questions. One thing l can tell you without doubt is identity can only be found in Christ , only in Him can we truly know who we are

Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness and all these things shall be added to you!