Sometimes life’s circumstances, whether our own making or something out of our control, can leave us feeling lost about our identity. We define ourselves by labels: daughter, sister, wife, mother, writer, artist, musician… Sometimes those labels are negative: anorexic, divorcee, adulterer, victim, ugly… We accumulate so many labels that eventually, we begin to wonder, “Who am I?” We’re lost, weighed down, confused.
Last year, I hit rock bottom. I was the furthest I’d ever felt from my Jesus. The pain overwhelmed me, threatened to consume me. But God is so good. He reached out His hand and whispered my name. My name. Not the labels I attached to myself. No, He called me by name. “Audra”. Then He clarified my identity: “My love.” “My delight.” “My bride.”
I have an inheritance. Not my broken inheritance from earthly parents. No, I have a spiritual inheritance. My Father is The King of kings. My brother is the Prince of Peace. I can claim that identity because He has called me His own. I am the daughter of God. Bride of Christ. That’s all I need to know. I belong here.
When I came to the realization that these labels are not WHO I am, but rather define WHAT I’ve done or do, it helped me to accept the ones that lift me up, and replace the ones that tear me down.
I am a Sinner – I AM FORGIVEN
I am Ugly – I AM MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE
I am Unloved – I AM BELOVED
I am Alone – I AM THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
I encourage you to write down those labels that cut deep, and replace them with Truth. Claim your inheritance. Know where you belong. Don’t accept what the world says or what you put on yourself. God is calling you by name. He loves you, desires you. Take His hand and dance with Him.
Annalisa says
Thanks so much for this written! You sincerely are a genius to conceive this topic
Audra Marie says
Awww, thanks, Annalisa. I was going to write about the concert I saw last night, but this was on my heart instead. 🙂
Heather Silva says
It’s hard to get rid of the labels sometimes, but i suppose that is why we need Christ so much. 🙂
Heather Silva recently posted:My First Concert Adventure!
Audra Marie says
Going to God with those labels that we struggle with can sometimes be an ongoing thing. We tend to pull them back onto ourselves. We need to spend time with Him often each day.
Heather Silva says
Amen, I know I label myself way to much!
Heather Silva recently posted:My First Concert Adventure!
Sarah says
Thank you for this…I know I’ll be coming back to it more than once. 🙂
Sarah
Sarah recently posted:An Eighteenth Century Tea Party
Audra Marie says
I’m glad it touched you, Sarah. 🙂
Erin says
Audra, these are such beautiful truths we can rebuke the lies with. I’ve been going through a bit of a valley lately and I have to say that it can be hard to see ourselves as Christ sees us. And those roles can be tricky, too. I have a hard time separating myself from my roles.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog today, I’m so glad I was able to come visit you- I love what you write about.
Blessings,
Erin
Audra Marie says
Erin, I think we have to remind ourselves often to see ourselves as Christ sees us. I know I do. There are constant thoughts that want to keep us weighed down, but God wants to lift us up with His truth. I hope you find yourself climbing up out of that valley soon. Thanks for coming by. 🙂