Identity
I feel like I learned something new that became full circle for me and I wanted to share. If I’m being vulnerable... my identity has been hard. Weirdly I can be walking in my God-given purpose and simultaneously struggling with my identity. What? Thought these two went hand-in-hand?
I believe not. I think our identity can be altered, transformed, false, discovered, undiscovered, and foggy. While I believe our purpose is unchanging, always waiting on us to start to see it and go after it.
So as I went through counseling in college and working under my supervisor I learned tons about trauma. Tons about how childhood trauma still affects someone years and years later. Tons about how trauma affects your children’s children’s children’s children! Tons about how trauma affects your identity.
Did you know that the main thing the enemy is after is your identity and purpose? He doesn’t want your money, your family, your relationship, or your things at all. He wants your identity, your calling, and your purpose. These things all lead you to the mission of God and growing the kingdom of God which gives you joy, peace, wholeness, and true contentment. If you have those things you aren’t as tempted to be trapped by the enemy and he knows this.
If he can get your identity and purpose then he can keep you from God’s will for your life and derail you from the plans God has to use you for good. So what does this have to do with trauma and God-given identity? Trauma work helps people grieve the losses of their expectations of life that has shaped their current thinking patterns, beliefs, and habits because of the trauma they experienced that altered their identity. It goes like this: pure identity > expectations of healthy life > trauma > loss > unhealthy response > new thought patterns > continued unhealthy responses > tainted identity
or in Christian terms: God-identity > sin in the world > trauma > losses > unhealthy responses resulting in sinful behaviors > turning further from God unable to recognize true purpose > continue to believe lies of the enemy > more sinful patterns > Enemy-identity
I’m thankful even though the enemy tries to snatch my identity and take from me who I am... I can always go back, it’s never too late, and I’m always fully forgiven to try again. So my questions are... are you taking your identity back? What steps are you taking to find your purpose again? What steps are you taking to find wholeness and healing? Who are you going to let own your identity? People? The enemy? Your past? Or the One who gives it in the first place?