Identity: Part 1

Humans tend to shy away from the tough topics in life.

If we’re honest with each other, we have all faced the dreaded question: who am I?

As an overseas missionary I am very familiar with those words.

I remember when I first asked myself that question. It was a terrifying moment. Like everything I had ever defined myself as was no longer who I was. No longer a part of what made me me.

The Common Mix-Up

When I lived in France (and even America) it was easy to find my value and purpose in my social environment, friends, events, hobbies, etc.

However, when me and my family moved to Africa, all the things that made up my personality were stripped away from me.

Something we mix up a lot as human beings is the difference between identity and personality.

Personality is…

1. the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character.

Identity is…

1. the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.

The Difference

Personality is what makes up the things that distinguish you from other people. It is what makes you unique.

Identity is the fact of being you.

Let me give you a bit of a mental picture to better grasp this idea. Personality is like an orange peel. Identity is the orange itself (the fruit). You can take away the peel and still have an orange.

In other words, if your personality was randomly stripped away from you…you would still be you. Because our personalities stem from our identity. 

Make sense?

Examining Ourselves

So, let’s say you are a naturally prideful person. Is that a part of your personality or your identity?

Just pause and think about it. For it to be a part of your identity you would have to be the literal essence of pride. Doesn’t that put things into a different perspective?

A further example is the verse 1 John 4:16 which says, ‘God is love’.

That is a part of our God’s identity. He is literally the essence of love.

Remembering God’s Identity

It’s important to remember God’s love (as mentioned above) when studying our own identities.

Because no matter how broken or hopeless or crushed we feel, His love remains the same.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16

But wait…that was only supposed to be for the “good people.” Right?

Let me ask you something.

Do you think God had forgotten about how badly it hurt when Adam and Eve chose death after He had given them life? Or had he somehow erased the memory of the disastrous flood He caused to start a new generation?

God sent His son on a mission that was fated from day one all because He chose to love us.

To love you.

God’s love is the kind of love that doesn’t make sense. And that’s okay. It was never about understanding it. Our goal is simply learning to accept it.

Because the Creator loves you so much that He sent His son to take your place on the cross. All so that you could have the opportunity to find life in Him.

So as we search for answers and we explore our own identities…remember God’s identity. 

And if there are still a thousand questions tumbling in your mind–don’t worry. We’ll be discussing this topic even further next week. 

-Rue