Do You Know Who You Are?

If I were to ask you, "Who are you?" how would you answer?


Would you define yourself by who you are to others?

I am Susie's mom/ John's wife/ Stacy's daughter.

Would you explain yourself by what you do?

I am a student/ a secretary/ a doctor.

I am a cheerleader/ a swimmer/ a basketball player.

I am a mom.

I am a good cook.

Would you characterize yourself by your strengths?

I am strong/ intelligent/ funny.

I am loving and compassionate.

Or by your weaknesses?

I am lazy/ fat/ forgetful.

I am always wrong.

I run away/ am afraid and unsure.

Would you give your answer based on how you feel?

I am alone/ lonely/ happy/ broken/ lost.

Maybe you would define yourself by the wrongs in your life?

I use drugs. I drink too much.

I had an abortion. I am a teen mom.

I am failing my classes.

We define ourselves in so many ways. This life has a way of molding and shaping who we believe ourselves to be. Our experiences, our choices, our victories, our failures all feed into this description that is formed in our minds. 

We are bombarded with images of what the world says we should strive  to be - 

skinnier, smarter, more physically fit with gorgeous hair, perfect make-up and 

someone who adores us holding our hand. 

We must be more or lag behind, have more or be left out. Appearances are everything. Just scroll through Instagram or Facebook -

the perfect pose at just the right angle, a killer filter, a picture of every fun moment. 

And what do we do with these images? We compare ourselves to them. And we, many times, feel we will never be enough.

Enough to be loved, to be wanted, to be valued.

But that's a HUGE lie!

You are enough. You are Loved. You are wanted and highly valued!

The Truth is that you were created with love for a purpose and are being pursued by the One who created you and loves you enough to die for you. 

Yes, you!

No matter where you have been, what you have done, who you think you are or want to be. 

YOU! Just as you are!

You don't need power, money, status, perfect hair, the best tan. Your value isn't in who you know or who loves you or doesn't. What you do or don't do doesn't define you.

GOD defines you! 

He is full of Truth. He never lies, He never changes, He will never leave you.

He is all you need and you are all He wants. 

YOU! 

Just as you are, right now, whatever that looks like.

Please, dear one, please hear these words and believe them. I know where you are. I know where you have been. It's overwhelming, confusing, painful. Trying to sort out who you are, really, while being constantly being bombarded by thoughts of who you should be or could have been or want to be. It's sometimes so crazy you just want to curl up in a ball and melt away. I know. I have been there and some days, when the lies in my head get louder than the Truths I hold in my heart, I get all twisted up, and...

I lash out. I give up. I give in. I seek out some way to fill the empty spaces.

In the past, that was men, drinking, parties. 
Now it might look like shopping, eating, withdrawing.

NONE of that can fill the empty place in your heart that was designed for God only. 

There is an enemy who seeks to destroy you, 

your peace, your joy. 

He is the Father of Lies. 

Don't fall prey to him.

Soak in the Truth about who you are and what you were created to be! 

Then, when your soul feels empty and raw, 

feed it with what you know in your mind and 

what you have stored up in your heart.

The best and most complete explanation of who you are I have ever seen is in this amazing Father's Love Letter.

Seek Him and you will find Him and where you find Him 

you will find the Truth about yourself.

Love,

Emily's mom