Your identity is found in Christ, not in what happened to you.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15, Amplified

“Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1

Last year, I learned I had a father I didn’t know I had and a grandmother who passed away before I could meet her. Both of my grandmothers went to heaven before I could know them. And so, when I discovered I had a beautiful woman who loved God, who looked like me, was well respected in the community as a special education teacher, who played ten different musical instruments and was a singer, a classical pianist, and composer by hand, I was heartbroken. She passed away in 2005 living only a few miles away from where I lived and I felt robbed. Had to do a lot of work in therapy to forgive and see this from the right perspective.

The Lord and my therapist helped me come to the realization that I was who I am before I came across this new information about my birth, and I will continue to be who I am in God after finding these things out. It doesn’t change me. It adds to me. Anything you discover about yourself, your birth, your family history, or anything doesn’t change who you are to you Heavenly Father. Let new information be like a newspaper arriving at your doorstep. Pick it up and read it. Tear out your favorite parts, toss the rest, and keep moving forward remembering who you were before you picked up anything to read.

You were God’s daughter before the diagnosis and you’re still God’s daughter now. You were God’s daughter before you found out about the family secret and you’re still God’s daughter now. You were God’s daughter before the breakup and you’re still God’s daughter now. You were God’s daughter before you found out your best friend betrayed your trust, and you’re still God’s daughter now. Nothing has changed who you are. Shook you, maybe, but nothing has changed your spiritual makeup. Your identity is found in Christ, not in what happened to you. You are sealed with God’s Holy Spirit, and He claims you as His very own. Let that comfort you today.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for deeply ministering to my heart and mind. Thank you for reminding by your Spirit of my identity in you. Thank you that nothing changes my sonship. Nothing. No matter any new discoveries, I am who you say I am and you are my Abba Father. I receive the help of your Holy Spirit to forgive and see this from your view. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read Ephesians 4:30