Identity Check

GETTING STARTED

God’s workmanship is astounding! Learning that I was wired and designed by God to be me, with my specific personality and gifts, was one of the most freeing aspects of becoming a believer. Until I was in my late 20s, I thought I was a bit of a freak—and I just hoped no one else noticed. I felt this way because I was an introvert who craved solitude, yet I had what my mother referred to as “people skills.” In high school and college, I tried my hardest to avoid joining groups or clubs, and the thought of being involved in a sorority was terrifying. Without trying, I not only ended up in those organizations, I was made a leader in them. The same thing happened in the workplace. The girl whose instinct was to run from people was, ironically, a person people wanted to follow, and I ended up in a career in customer service

As a believer in Christ, I came to realize that my uniqueness was a gift that came with responsibility and a need for self-control.

READ THE WORD: PROVERBS 4:23-27 (ESV)

²³Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
²⁴Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
²⁵Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
²⁶Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
²⁷Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

RESPOND TO GOD

I learned over the years that my people skills come from my ability to adapt to the people I’m around, but there is a downside to that. I spent 15 years working alongside non-believers and being accepting of who they were and the type of lifestyle they lived. Many became close friends, and it became very easy to act as they acted and believe as they did. Even after becoming a Christian, I found myself struggling to form an identity at work as a believer. By not inviting God into the workplace with me then—and even now—I am susceptible. This means that my speech can be influenced by anger and frustration, and that my tolerance of people can be too low to extend love and compassion.

Through the years there are many times that I can look back at and think, “If someone was asked to point out the Christian in the room, would they point to me?” It’s a humbling question, even now. Our actions are a reflection of Christ, especially when we walk away from gossip, show kindness to an adversary, and respond to conflict with grace. Christ is the model for how we are to conduct ourselves, and Scripture gives us step-by-step instructions for how to live like Jesus.