As Christians, we say the phrase "find your identity in Christ" all the time. But since you first heard that, how much have you really thought about what that actually means? What does it mean to find your identity in anything? Well, how do you think about who you are? What do you think when you think about you? Is it how many likes you got on your last Instagram post? Or what that girl said about your hair last week? (I always wonder when I read things like this, "Is she pulling examples from her real life? Or just making things up that people will relate to?" It's the former, sadly enough. While I'm writing this and thinking about where my identity lies, I had to push my hair out of my face so that I could see to type, and I realized that I only straightened it this morning because of a comment that my suite mate said the other day. I made an active choice to change my hair from the way that God created it (Hella Curly) to straight, and lost 20 minutes of precious, precious sleep in the process.)
A friend told me an analogy once in reference to identity that I really love:
"When you look at yourself the way that the world looks at you, it is like looking into a broken and dirty mirror. The world is sinful and is not gong to create an accurate reflection of who you really are. But when you look at yourself the way that God looks at you, it is like looking into a brand new, perfectly clean mirror, and is a perfect representation of who you really are." So, how does God see you? What does He see when He looks at you?
He sees that you are all beautiful and that there is no flaw in you (Song of Solomon 4:7).
He sees you as one fearfully and wonderfully made (by Him) (Psalm 139 that's from verse 14, but really just frickin all of it).
He sees you as His own, dearly beloved and chosen by Him (Colossians 3:12).
He sees all of the worst parts of you and still says that He loves you and wants to be near you. And that should point you to the cross. When you think of you, you should think of how He loves you so much that while you were still fighting against Him, He saw you are important enough to send His Son to die a brutal death on the cross so that you can spend eternity with Him.
That is what it means to find your identity in Christ.
Monday, November 30, 2015
College
Five months ago I moved into my dorm room for the first time, but honestly it feels like I've already spent so much longer here. It has been amazing, and I fall more in love with this place everyday that I'm here. I just want to do something more for myself than for anyone reading this (which, let's face it, is the only reason I write this anyway). So, this is just a letter to myself right before move in day.
Oh Emily,
You are so worried about so many things. You think everyday about everything that could go wrong. You're worried about not knowing what to do, about trying to make new friends, and about loosing your old friends. Just take a deep breath, it is all going to be alright.
You will be amazed at how quickly you will grow close to some wonderful friends, and how you will recreate old ones. You'll love your roommate more than you could possibly expect now. It won't take even a week for this place to feel like home. You'll meet some weird people and some great ones.
You'll loose your voice cheering on the Gamecocks and you'll eat away your feelings the first time that they lose. You'll find the perfect dress for game day, and you'll jump and cheer until you can't feel your feet. And you don't regret choosing this for one moment. This wonderful, beautiful, fantastic world you have found has become home, and you wouldn't have it any other way. You'll mess up a few times, and you might even get your heart broken, but nothing is too big to stand in your way. Stop worrying and remember that God has brought you here for a reason. Take some deep breaths and finish packing. Everything will be ok.
Stop worrying about losing your friends. No, you don't facetime one a week, but Meghan sends you random buzzed quizzes once a week, and the first time you see Rachel and Molly again it's like you all never left, except for the fun new stories that you have to share with each other. Don't worry about Nick and Matthew, they are going to be fine. This separation actually brings you closer together and now you tell them everything. You even help them through a few weird situations too. Stop worrying and start praying, that's the only thing you can do. So, respira.
With hope and love and joy,
Emily, One Semester Down
Oh Emily,
You are so worried about so many things. You think everyday about everything that could go wrong. You're worried about not knowing what to do, about trying to make new friends, and about loosing your old friends. Just take a deep breath, it is all going to be alright.
You will be amazed at how quickly you will grow close to some wonderful friends, and how you will recreate old ones. You'll love your roommate more than you could possibly expect now. It won't take even a week for this place to feel like home. You'll meet some weird people and some great ones.
You'll loose your voice cheering on the Gamecocks and you'll eat away your feelings the first time that they lose. You'll find the perfect dress for game day, and you'll jump and cheer until you can't feel your feet. And you don't regret choosing this for one moment. This wonderful, beautiful, fantastic world you have found has become home, and you wouldn't have it any other way. You'll mess up a few times, and you might even get your heart broken, but nothing is too big to stand in your way. Stop worrying and remember that God has brought you here for a reason. Take some deep breaths and finish packing. Everything will be ok.
Stop worrying about losing your friends. No, you don't facetime one a week, but Meghan sends you random buzzed quizzes once a week, and the first time you see Rachel and Molly again it's like you all never left, except for the fun new stories that you have to share with each other. Don't worry about Nick and Matthew, they are going to be fine. This separation actually brings you closer together and now you tell them everything. You even help them through a few weird situations too. Stop worrying and start praying, that's the only thing you can do. So, respira.
With hope and love and joy,
Emily, One Semester Down
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