What If I’m Wrong?
Have you ever stopped long enough to really look at what you believe to be your identity?
Verses of the Day
‘Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.’
‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.’
Today’s Devotional
A few weeks ago, I had a spiritual “lightbulb” moment. And it was not pretty. I had been struggling with some circumstances and relationships, and I was hurt. I had been praying about these things, because I could not see the reason why my feelings seemed to be more hurt than the circumstances called for. My reaction was not proportionate. At all.
Through prayer, the Word, and other spiritual-based literature, God revealed a lie that was hidden deep in my heart. A lie that I was believing. Believing this lie was causing all sorts of problems that I could not see before the Lord revealed the lie that was buried deep into my core.
“I am not enough and I never will be.”
That’s the lie. Even typing that sentence is tender.
What if I’m wrong? What if I’m enough just because God says that I am?
I knew, on some level, that I struggled with my own enough-ness. But I had no awareness of how deep this lie went, how long it had been there, and how much it was affecting my life. It’s as though I had a big wound on my arm that I did not know was there, and I was surprised by the pain every time someone touched my arm.
Since discovering this lie and discussing it with some trusted friends, I have come to believe that many of us struggle with something similar. I know many people who struggle to believe that they are enough. The details of how this is expressed, or how this fear is felt and experienced is different for each of us.
This fear – of not being enough- is rooted in identity. Who am I? Today’s second passage says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” My fear of not being enough is “what is wrong in [my life]”. God’s Word has MUCH to say about “what is true”, which is what God says about who I am. And who you are.
After confessing and repenting to God the depth of my belief in this lie, I wasn’t sure what to do next. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that the Word has many things to say about our identity. I know that I need to learn, study, and meditate on who God says I am. Since I know that I need to do this, it would be sin for me to brush this off (according to James 4:17 (above)). Since what is true about me is also true about you, we are going to spend the next few days or weeks- however long it takes- diving into God’s declaration of our identity.
Let’s be honest with ourselves and God about where we are starting on this particular journey in this particular season. One of the pastors at my church says that “identity determines behavior”. So… look at your life and your actions and ask yourself, “Based on the evidence of my behaviors, what do I believe about myself?”
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
If it’s true that identity determines behavior, then it’s also true that behavior is indicative of identity. What does your behavior say about who you are?
If someone asked you to describe yourself, what would your answer be?
Invite the Holy Spirit to show you what you currently believe, right or wrong, about your identity.
Comments
In that single sentence “I am not enough and never will be”, I believe you have articulated the root cause all human problems. The psychological root and insecurity that has plagued us since Adam and Eve left the Garden. The root of sin. If only millions of folks would read that sentence and this devotional this world would change for the better. Outstanding description of the root cause of insecurity and sin. In God’s eyes the opposite is true. We are His chosen and adopted children. Well done!