Throughout history, society has demanded to put people in boxes. The rich box, poor box; the beauty box, and the not so beauty box; the thin box, fat box, smart box, and the not-so-smart box… Society has told you what to think when you look in the mirror and what you can do if you don’t like what you see. You can go to any library and check out countless self-help books (or download it to your Nook). Each one is a little different than the next, but they all tell you how to act, how to change, and how to think, in order to fit into the perfect box.
With the ever-growing charge of social media, a new outlet for box-perfecting has emerged. Our friends list consists of people who appear to have the perfect life. The beautiful picture of the sleeping baby; the shiny new engagement ring; the job-acceptance post; the “I have the best husband” meme. It goes on and on. Then we sit back and look at our own imperfect, insignificant lives and feel less than average.
In reality, it took that mom multiple pictures from 10 different angles to get that perfect picture after struggling with junior for an hour to fall asleep. The engagement ring was 75% off at Kmart; The new job only pays less than a $1.00 more than minimum wage; And that wife just happened to not be mad at her hubby at that moment because he remembered their anniversary. Of course, she reminded him the day before…
Their lives are no more perfect than yours. And yet, we long to create the picture-perfect molded little box to define who we are. Why? In order to feel accepted.
And when you aren’t being bombarded with how great all your friends’ lives are, ads and news articles with a plethora of photo shopped super models, celebrities, and folks getting paid millions to simply exist, blast all over your newsfeed.
Society has molded our thinking as to what is good, lovely and beautiful and convinces us that we need to change who we are in order to fit into the more desirable boxes.
You were not designed to live in a box.
You are as unique to the universe as each star, or snowflake, or grain of sand. Having broken the mold, or box, when you were conceived, there is no one else in the whole world like you. And that goes for all of us. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by God and in His image, each of us with our own divine purpose, DNA, fingerprints, and temperament.
And God doesn’t make mistakes. To dislike who you are or what you look like is insulting to God. The Creator of the Universe, the One Who loves you beyond all comprehension, made you to be exactly who you are. Would you be able to look on Him and say, “Hey, God, how dare you give me black hair; or freckles, or make me an introvert; or make me… fill in the blank?” Instead, we need to look at society and say, “Hey, Society, you do not define me!”
This is not to say you are perfect or that improvements shouldn’t be made. Because of the fall of man, sin entered the world and caused our temperaments to have weaknesses. But, Hallelujah, where I am weak, He is strong! The good news is your strengths remained intact. Even if they have been dormant all your life, they are still there, waiting to be explored. It is time to let your light shine!
How do I discover just who it is God, not society, created me to be?
The answer to all life’s questions can be found in His Word.
Let’s take a look…
Who Are You In Christ?
I AM – A Child of God ~ Romans 8:16
I AM – A friend of God ~ John 15:15
I AM – Loved by God; Nothing can separate me from His love ~ Romans 8: 31-39
I AM – Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy ~ Psalm 107:2
I AM – Forgiven ~ Colossians 1:13-14
I AM – Saved by Grace through Faith ~ Ephesians 2:8
I AM – Justified ~ Romans 5:1
I AM – Sanctified ~ I Corinthians 6:11
I AM – A New Creature ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
I AM – Partaker of His Divine Nature ~ 2 Peter 1:4
I AM – Redeemed from the Curse of the Law ~ Galatians 3:13
I AM – Delivered from the Powers of Darkness ~ Colossians 1:13
I AM – Led by the Spirit of God ~ Romans 8:14
I AM – Free From All Bondage ~ John 8:36
I AM – Kept in Safety Wherever I Go ~ Psalm 91:11
I AM – Getting All My Needs Met by God ~ Philippians 4:19
I AM – Casting All My Cares on Jesus ~ I Peter 5:7
I AM – God’s workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10
I AM – Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might ~ Ephesians 6:10
I AM – Doing All Things through Christ Who Strengthens Me ~ Philippians 4:13
I AM – An Heir of God and a Joint Heir with Jesus ~ Romans 8:17
I AM – Heir to the Blessings of Abraham ~ Galatians 3:13-14
I AM – Complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10
I AM – Free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2
I AM – Blessed Coming in and Blessed Going out ~ Deuteronomy 28:6
I AM – An Heir of Eternal Life ~ I John 5:11-12
I AM – Blessed with All Spiritual Blessings ~ Ephesians 1:3
I AM – Healed by His Stripes ~ I Peter 2:24
I AM – Exercising My Authority over the Enemy ~ Luke 10:19
I AM – Above Only and Not Beneath ~ Deuteronomy 28:13
I AM – More than a Conqueror ~ Romans 8:37
I AM – An Overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of My Testimony ~ Revelation 12:11
I AM – Not Moved by What I See ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18
I AM – Walking by Faith and Not by Sight ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
I AM – Casting Down Vain Imaginations ~ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
I AM – Bringing Every Thought into Captivity ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5
I AM – A citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
I AM – Being Transformed by Renewing My Mind ~ Romans 12:1-2
I AM – Reigning in Life through Christ Jesus ~ Romans 5:17
I AM – The Righteousness of God in Christ ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21
I Am- The temple of the Lord ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16
I AM – An Imitator of Jesus ~ Ephesians 5:1
I AM – The Light of the World ~ Matthew 5:14
I AM ~ Seated with Jesus in Heavenly places ~ Ephesians 2:6
There it is. That is who you are, and so much more. The Bible is full of God’s love letters to you, telling of His love for you and who He created you to be. You don’t ever have to wonder because it’s all there in black and white and red. Don’t let society define you. Go to the One Who made you to find out who you are.
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!