Quote:

“I planned to start by telling you my name, but that won’t work. I’ve had too many.” – Jo Rivers, Calculated by Nova McBee 

Context:

Imagine opening up a book to reading that as the first line. Intriguing. Gripping. Instantly you are hooked and need to know more. Who is this person? Why has she had so many names? What are these names? That first sentence is far more than just an introduction to a character who goes by many names.

We live in a world where people are more confused about their identity than ever. People define their worth by what other people think, how many followers they have, how many people liked their post, or whether or not they win the game. The places that we put our self-worth are fluctuating. They don’t stay the same and so our opinions of ourselves fluctuate with it. 

Josephine Rivers, Octavia, Double Eight, Mila, Phoenix. Name after name after name. In her complicated world of numbers Jo knew everything, she was one of the smartest people in the whole world, but she did not know who she really was. She struggled to find a grasp for her identity. In a world that hunted her down for her talents, Jo was lost despite her brilliant mind. 

As Christians we need to learn to put our identity in what is constant. Not in the opinions of others, not in that one rude comment someone gave you, not in the names people may degrade you with. The only thing constant in this world is Jesus Christ. In Him is the only secure and steady place to put our worth. Our identity should be wrapped up in Him, because His words are truth. Who does He say that you are? He says we are heirs to His kingdom if we are His children. We are sons and daughters of the Most High if we put our faith in Jesus and follow Him. 

And you would think that if His opinion is all that matters, then we would do everything to stand in a right relationship with Him, for his opinion of us to be holy and pure? Right? 

But do we do that? 

Do we make a point to please God in all that we do? To glorify Him? To reflect His light? 

I know that I don’t do that all the time. There was a time that I struggled with my identity for a while, and honestly I still do. I do Taekwondo and I had just earned my third degree black belt. I was a third degree black belt. And without realizing it, I made that everything. Yes, it had been a dream and a goal that I’d had for a very long time and I finally reached it. It was a huge accomplishment. But I put my whole identity into that. It was who I was and what I did. It wasn’t until that was taken from me for me to understand where my heart really was. I was injured and suddenly had to sit on the sidelines and watch all my friends and siblings do the thing I loved. I was still a third degree but I couldn’t even walk on my leg anymore, so who was I? If I couldn’t do the thing I spent all my time on, who even am I? 

I had to learn that my identity, my worth, is not defined by what I do. It's not defined by my capabilities. By how strong I am. It's not defined by what I can or can’t do. But it is defined by what God says of me. And He calls me His child. He says I am loved. He says that when I am weak, He is strong. He tells me that when I can’t He can. All things are possible through Him. 

When I  truly discovered this, I was able to continue, to keep pressing forward, to persevere and to train harder than ever before. I was still a third degree black belt. And no, I couldn’t kick. I couldn’t do what I could before. I wasn’t nearly as strong as I once was. But I was closer to God and I knew who I was. I was His daughter and He would carry me through. 

Through Jo Rivers journey she too had to learn her identity was not wrapped up in the many names she was given but the truth, deep down under all the lies of who she truly was. 

Romans 8:17 – “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Written by: Adalyn E. Skains