Struggle Strategizer: You
Listen, the coronavirus is scary. If your scared acknowledge it. Don’t suppress your fear, treat it. Treat your worries by analyzing your identity. At one point or another, all of us have to come to terms with whowe are.
Currently, we are all susceptible to the same struggle because of our residency on planet earth. Yes, some of us are more susceptible than others, but we are all facing the same villain right now. Some of us are shocked by social distancing, while some of us are used to it because of a physical, mental, or emotional struggle. Whether you are used to social distancing on the daily or not, this pandemic is causing people to step back from their day to day roles and activities. Some are wondering who they are because of this shift. Whatever boat you’re in take a minute to reflect.
3 questions to ask yourself:
1. Do I determine my identity based off what I do?
2. Do I determine my identity based off my relationships and who I’m with?
3. Do I determine my identity based off where I am physically, mentally, or emotionally?
Today you have the opportunity to analyze who you really are when your life is dramatically altered. Today you have the opportunity to analyze who you really are when you can’t socialize like your used to, exercise like your used to, work like your used to, and study how your used to. Today you have the opportunity to acknowledge your fear and then acknowledge that your identity in Christ is that will not crumble under fear or sickness.
Take this in struggle strategizer, your identity in Christ is the only identity you can assume that will not crumble.
This identity will not crumble under the weight of a physical illness, an injury, a mental health battle, a trauma, a recession, or even a pandemic.
Who are you when your daily life is stripped away. Think for a second. I’m not asking you who will you be if trials come or if you have to take extreme measures warranted by the CDC. Who are you today when your healthy and at work or sick in bed. Who are you today when you’re listening to fears or facts. Who are you today and who will you be tomorrow? Pandemic or no pandemic who are you, friend?
About fifteen months ago, my life changed. This change started with a tremor in my right arm and very quickly escalated into a nightmare. I couldn’t attend school or work. My physical activity was limited to learning how to walk. I didn’t know how to identify myself. I wasn’t sure if I could call myself a student, therapeutic horseback riding instructor, dressage rider, or athlete. because I wasn’t able to physical do these things.
If we build our identity around things that fall apart under the pressure of change, we will either fall to our knees or fall away from our God-given identity.
Despite the coronavirus, our careers will change. Our abilities and knowledge will fade. Our health is not certain. Although, we are forever adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and purified by God. We are blameless in his sight and victorious over death because we are his.
Attributes of God:
- God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6).
- God is all-powerful (Revelation 1:8).
- God is all-knowing (Isaiah 46:9-10).
- God is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24).
- God is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9).
- God is good (Psalm 34:8).
- God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Attributes as a follower of Christ:
- Adopted (Ephesians 1:5).
- Redeemed (Ephesians 1:7).
- Forgiven (Ephesians 1:7, Psalm 103:11-12, 1 John 1:9).
- Blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
- Your victorious (1 John 5:4, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
Jesus isn’t questioning his identity, and you shouldn’t question your identity as his Child. Remember, our circumstances tell people where we are or who we are depending on our response.
Never Give Up,
Sondra
This post was not only helpful, but an informational reminder as a new”er” Christian (sorry for incorrect grammar), that my identity in Christ is the solid foundation and identity that I now carry. I pray for your continued healing and recovery. You are so strong <3
Thank you for your kind words! I’m so glad you agree that we are so much more than the struggles we experience.