Identity in Christ

Struck by the rapidly increasing rate of insecurity, anxiety, and depression a few years ago, I started paying careful attention to what seemed to be triggering these struggles. Admittedly, there are many causes—some of them rather complex and beyond our discussion here—but there are others that are more straightforward. What I began to understand was that much of our insecurity, anxiety, and depression is driven by a lost or misplaced identity. Millions of people are in the midst of an identity crisis, and it’s causing many of them to choose despair, hopelessness, and destructive choices over Christ-centered joy, hope, and obedience.
My concern over this issue led me to writing my second book entitled So Long, Identity Crisis, which was published in 2024. My interest in this topic was recently rejuvenated when we began our small group study on Thom Rainer’s book, I Am A Christian. I have the privilege of leading two of these groups, and decided that the information I shared in the first session was worthy of a synopsis.
Unlike the rest of creation, humankind possesses a sense of self-awareness that prompts us to search for significance, meaning, value, and identity. No creature in the animal kingdom shares this characteristic. In my adult years, I have owned three dogs. Not one of them ever questioned their significance, meaning, value, or identity. They never expressed dissatisfaction over living in our house. Never asked to get an education. Never applied for a job. And certainly never cleaned up the messes they made. If they vomited, they were content to ignore it or go back to it and… well, you get the picture.
People, however, are profoundly different from animals. Humanity is uniquely created in God’s image; everything in the forming of the earth and filling it climaxes with the creation of humanity on day six. Adam and Eve were the pinnacle of God’s creation, and this remains true to this day. The ascending order of creation points to the significance of human life. Men and women do not rule over creation by mere strength and force—there are many creatures that are stronger than we are—but God’s command. Humanity, as image bearers of God, are called to have dominion over the animal kingdom because of our likeness to our Creator.
Sadly, not all people see the creation of humankind through a biblical perspective. But because we are created in God’s image, we have a sense of worth that nothing else in creation experiences. The problem is that too many people look to something or someone other than God to define themselves, and from which to draw their identity. Many people find their identity in things such as their vocation, favorite hobby, volunteer work, ministry, family, children, accomplishments, abilities, or any number of other things. Others draw their identity from a subjective experience such as an addiction, a personal failure, a feeling, an emotion, a personal attribute, or their upbringing. Christians, however, must find their identity in Christ alone.
Starting with Adam and Eve’s rebellion in Eden, we tend to abandon our identity in our Creator and buy into a false identity that does not have God at the center. Whenever we forget who we are in Christ, we fall into a pattern of identity confusion, and soon fail to find confidence in the fact that we are children of God, uniquely designed for His good purposes. We must cling to our identity in Christ so we do not fall into despair, hopelessness, or destructive choices. God expects us to find our identity in Him, and become all He created us to be. As I wrote in So Long, Identity Crisis:
Many Christians have developed a form of spiritual amnesia, leaving them
wandering aimlessly to find themselves and discover their true identity.
Forgetting we are uniquely created in God’s image, we squander our
valuable time, energy, and talent searching for significance, meaning,
value, and identity in the things of this world. Rather than finding confidence
in Christ, and using our God-given talents for His glory, we foolishly chase
whatever path feels right at the moment. Many in the church today are
lost in an identity crisis, and it is producing anemic, lethargic, and passive
Christians by the thousands (p. 8). [1]
Finding yourself and your identity is not a magical event that spontaneously occurs when something deep inside your soul comes into focus and you realize who you really are as an individual. The misguided idea of finding yourself centers on what you want your life to be and what direction you want your life to go. This self-reliant determinism draws our hearts away from God and prevents us from being the person He created us to be. As a result, we spend a lot of time developing certain characteristics, developing particular skills, or reaching lofty goals. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with refining who God created you to be, but these pursuits must not become our identity. As I wrote in So Long, Identity Crisis:
Without drawing our identity from Christ, we are left feeling like an inkblot
splattered on a page. A cosmic mistake. A failure haphazardly thrown
together by an accidental explosion or a lesser god, indifferent to
the plight of humanity. While the rest of humankind appears to be a masterful
painting, skillfully crafted by the Creator, we feel useless, meaningless, and
valueless. No wonder we search for a positive sense of identity wherever
we can find it.
Our culture sings the sweet, seductive, and deceptive song of
self-importance and self-determination. In our insecurities, we eagerly buy
into the ‘it’s all about me’ mentality and try to find our identity in ourselves.
To convince ourselves that our worth is inside of us, we try to cover and
erase the imperfections that we know rage within us. God does value
you and He does rejoice over you but not because of who you are or
who you are trying to become. God rejoices over you because you
are His child, adopted into His family. [2]
God’s Word paints a beautiful picture for us regarding how God views humanity—particularly those who have faith in Him. Reflect on how the following verses should influence our understanding of identity:
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over
you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with
loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
 “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens” (Psalm 36:5).
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those
who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13–14).
“In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26).
Too often, we feel insecure, defective, or unlovable. When these feelings are combined with sinful rumination, a sense of insecurity, defectiveness, and unworthiness will inevitably follow. Because our identity is often misplaced, we regularly put ourselves in what I like to call “if only quandaries.” Examples of these quandaries would include:
“If only I could [fill in your desired talent], then I would feel valuable.”
“If only I was [fill in your desired characteristic], then my life would have meaning.”
“If only I was [fill in your desired accomplishment], then I would feel worthy.”
“If only I was [fill in your desired relationship], then I would feel cherished.”
“If only my [fill in your desired aspiration], then I would feel respected.”
“If only [fill in the name] would accept me, then I would be accepted.”
These “if only” statements leave us answering, “Who am I not?” and unsure how to answer the more important question, “Who am I?” Whenever we lose sight of our identity in Christ, we are prone to either thinking too much of ourselves or too little. As a result, many people are egotistical and arrogant while others are consumed with self-pity and self-loathing. Both of these sins are created by an obsession with self. We are commanded to humble ourselves and die to ourselves, not focus on ourselves.
While animals have consciousness, they do not possess an eternal soul, and are not created in the image of God. Only humans possess these characteristics. This explains why we are so special in the eyes of our Creator. Rest in your Heavenly Father’s love for you, and find your identity in Him alone. When you question whether or not you have value, meaning, or significance, remind yourself that you are a loved and cherished Child of almighty God.

[1] Jay Knolls, So Long, Identity Crisis (Wilmington, NC: Wondrous Word Ministries, 2024), 8.
[2] Ibid., 9-10.