The Identification of Personal Destiny

“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on an individual level. It’s got to happen inside first.”

— Jim Morrison (1943–1971)

This is often our existential battle. As we exist in this life we, by our circumstances, and our sources of self-esteem, vary. Never really do we remain confident at all times. We waver between faith and doubt. Sometimes we are exhilarated; other times we are depressed. Most times we hover in the middle. Life requires us to adapt. In the simple mode of living there are many complexities that seem to require us to compromise.

The source of becoming the person we actually are inside is closer than we imagine.

In all reality the abundant life cannot commence until we own who we are and accept ourselves unconditionally. There is no quicker or more effective way to that route than via the knowledge of God. The correct understanding of God brings us to the appreciation of grace—that if God approves of us, through our acceptance of the work of Jesus on the cross, we have no right to disapprove of ourselves.

If God Accepts Us Who Are We To Reject Ourselves?

This is a straightforward truth that, for many of us, bears ongoing consideration.

Who are we to reject ourselves, or to doubt our place in this life, or to second-guess the purposes God has for us?

Each of us has been born for a purpose. Firstly, it is to live this life, within the families and communities we have been set in. Secondly, in the midst of our passions and experiences and personalities is the realm of possibility, to do—anything—what God would approve for us to do. Our aspirations are important to God.

If God accepts us, and we take God at his Word, we accept these two purposes—the primary and secondary—the innate purpose and the missional purpose.

Identity Precedes Purpose

It is difficult, even perhaps impossible, to work within a worthwhile purpose if we haven’t first understood our identity. Firstly, we are identified by our faith in Christ. This is an awesome reality that goes before our purpose. Secondly, we are identified by self-knowledge and self-awareness; to be comfortable as the people God made us to be.

With such a platform of identity, our purposes become plainer.

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Being comfortable in our own skin is done best and right when we know God accepts us unconditionally, in and through Christ, and we accept ourselves. Once we are so positioned, safely self-identified, knowing and living out our purpose is simpler, easier, and more satisfying.

We are who we are because of Christ. Everything of good identity stems from this truth.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.