“I told you about my life, and you answered me; “I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word. Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.” Psalms‬ ‭119:26-32 CSB‬‬
18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of t 18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of the slide’ club
“We must reflect that, when we reach the end of “We must reflect that, when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default. We are at risk, without quite fully realizing it, of living lives that are less our own than we imagine.” William James

With the help of God, may we strive to become abiding and attentive people instead of distracted and defeated people.
The entire thing is He loved me first. And even wh The entire thing is He loved me first. And even when our surroundings are burning or when all we see is rubble, there is an unseen Kingdom to serve, a Family to be part of, and a powerful Love to give and receive. 

Every week it seems I’m inspired by a comment a friend and pastor made years ago — “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about the truth of Jesus. Think of it as joining a conversation God might already be having with that person.” 

May we be conduits of that strong, courageous, welcoming, comforting, healing, transforming, sustaining, peacemaking, eternal Love. Or as Bernice King said, “Love puts in work.”
Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’ Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’
“God is always coming to you in the sacrament of “God is always coming to you in the sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude.” Evelyn Underhill 

Such brokenness we see, such pain, such fear. Attend to Jesus — Lord, Savior, King — with all your honest thoughts and feelings, and let His power and love change you. Let Him form and re-form you into a help for the hurting, a bright spot for those in the dark, a presence for others to rest in. A ‘little Christ’ on the earth.

 ^ what I’m rehearsing to myself
Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfil Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfill the will of God through the inner influence of His Spirit instead of the outer influence of the law of God” (David Guzik).

This took me probably 15 years of following Jesus to grasp. It felt too easy, my willpower was my measuring stick, and the freedom was terrifying. 

But alas, God’s way is the best way, and there is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. I can’t muster spiritual fruit, but His goal, thankfully and marvelously, is vineyards and vineyards.

May we surrender this work to Him.
“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must en “The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” Parker J. Palmer
I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me rec I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me recently: What if you made choices out of fear of missing out on God instead of fear of missing out on what others deem significant?

In all honesty, FOMO sneaks up on me not along paths of a friend’s travel adventures or home decor or even if friends hang out without me. My FOMO animal comes in the form of popular and effective Christian voices. Because of technology and social media, I have access, though not complete (because we’re not actual friends), to their lives and ministry, their work and the personality they choose to share online. While a good thing in many ways, it stops being good when it becomes an avalanche I can’t keep up with but am afraid to stop.

// new blog post: FOMO on God //
  • faith
  • marriage
  • motherhood
  • lifestyle
  • creative
  • books
  • home
  • beautycounter
  • Join Our Team
  • Posts
    • Clothe Yourself With
    • Joy Triggers
    • Perspectives
    • Truth To Consider
    • Reading and Listening
  • about
  • Favorites
  • contact

chelsea eubank

refreshment for the journey

  • Posts
    • Clothe Yourself With
    • Joy Triggers
    • Perspectives
    • Truth To Consider
    • Reading and Listening
  • about
  • Favorites
  • contact

faith · 02/26/2016

My Identity Is In God Alone, And That Changes Everything

My Identity Is In God, And That Changes Everything. | heartnatured

This is a long one guys, a real heart spill, so I hope you stick with me.

Yesterday J and I were sitting on the couch, and as I started sharing my heart with him tears came to my eyes. I think, in general, my heart needed a release that I’d been fighting for days, and he was gracious like always. I shared how out of step I feel lately, fighting indifference and weariness, being unmotivated and passion-less about things. I don’t want to put all of these feelings on the back of this neck injury, but it is the reason for changes in the past three months. I’m perpetually uncomfortable physically, running is out of the picture (a true enjoyment and stress reliever for me), and I feel bummed out emotionally.

I shared that I don’t feel like myself, that I don’t feel put together, and then finally admitted that I’m having trouble loving myself. For the sake of this conversation, let’s use the aspect of running. Running is a way for me to relieve stress, it’s a way for me to flesh out emotions building up inside, it’s a way for me to push myself and set goals, it’s a source of accomplishment and especially, confidence. Running is a part of my identity, and these past few months I’ve realized that too much of my worth rests on my ability to run. Since I can’t push myself in exercise like I wish, I don’t feel I’m at my best. I don’t feel confident, I don’t feel energized. I feel as if I’m lacking, and sometimes like I’m inadequate.

These feelings have then seeped into other areas of my life, especially my attitude. I’m unmotivated when it comes to work projects, cooking, keeping up our home, engaging with friends, etc. This is not a good feeling, friends; maybe you’ve felt this way before. I’ve let myself fall into a trap that because I can’t engage in a favorite activity, like running, that I’m somehow less – that I can’t function the same, that my life isn’t as full.

While valid and natural feelings, to some extent, these are lies. (I’m thankful for a husband who graciously calls lies out and puts truth in their place.)

This morning on the ride to work, I posed the question,

Why is it so difficult for us to rest on our identity being in God, solely and completely?

Why do I feel like I need to add to it? Why do I feel like a prerequisite to loving myself is doing x, y, and z.. worldly accomplishments?

God never changes, therefore if my peace, joy, contentment, satisfaction, and being are found in Him, they won’t be shaken. But if I put identity and worth in worldly activities, like running (or career or status or wealth), and it’s taken away, then I’m broken. Instead of being a little bummed and adapting to a temporary change — my not being able to run for a couple of months — I live burdened and discouraged. I need to step back and look at the entire picture, the whole span of life – wouldn’t you agree?

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:24

I often tell J that I think of the marvels of marriage is that when I am weak and self-doubting, I can look at myself through his eyes, and feel whole and at peace and beautiful. Because he loves me deeply, and sees me as a whole person, not just a runner or a graphic designer, etc. And how much more does God do the same? To an extreme level!

Easier said than done, Chelsea – you say. I know, but at this point I need to latch on to what God thinks about me — who I am, bottom line, never changing — because I’m in Christ.

Loving myself is important, but if it isn’t based on God’s love, if it isn’t fueled by my life in Him, it will rise and fall every day, or every second. It will falter when I’m weary, or discouraged, or when life changes.

He knows the number of hairs on my head (Matthew 10:30), He knows what I am going to say before I think to say it (Psalm 139:4). I am saved, once for eternity and daily from my sinful nature (Romans 10:13). I am an adopted daughter, part of His family (Ephesians 1:5, 1 John 3:2, Romans 8:16-17).  In His eyes, I am a new creation, alive in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:11).

I am free, forgiven, cleansed, righteous in God’s sight because of Jesus (Romans 8:1-2, 1 John 1:9, Romans 4:5). I am secured in Him, and can never be snatched from His hand (Romans 8:39, John 10:29). He will never ever leave me, He’s present me with always (Hebrews 13:5).

My life, the fullest life, is found in Jesus – the Jesus who lives inside me (John 14:6, Colossians 3:3-4). His Spirit is in me to guide, help, and comfort me (Romans 5:5, John 14:17). My future is hope and glory, being delivered from this body, to live with Jesus (Romans 7:24-25, John 14:3). I am chosen (Revelation 17:14), victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57), and have a glorious future (Romans 8:18).

“All this miraculous experience of Christ’s supernatural joy and peace and love and strength is rooted (grafted!) in the reality that the life of Christ in us. That is, the living Christ in us. “You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3–4).

Christ is our life — not only the guarantee of it in heaven, but the down payment of it by the Spirit now, as he lives in us. His joy our joy, his love our love, his peace our peace, his strength our strength. These are not gifts moving from him to us. They are his life experienced as our life.” John Piper

Christ is my life. Even if I had nothing else but Him, my life could still be abundant, full of wonder and joy, peace and satisfaction, if I choose to believe the truth of His Word. Right? How often I forget this. Sure, I can’t wait to run again, I enjoy it too much. But my life isn’t running, it is only a small part of my life. I believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that puts me in Him. And it changes everything.

I also want to share this hymn, written by George Robinson,

His forever, only His;
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.

I boldly decided to put this out there, and even if I’m the only one, it was helpful to flesh out. But I hope, friend, if you can relate, that this was encouraging for you.

In: faith

receive posts to your inbox

You’ll Also Love

stop looking at the dirt: how I’m like the rich young ruler
Believe God THIS Moment
you are covered from head to toe

Comments

  1. Megan says

    02/27/2016 at 8:05 am

    I definitely have felt those same disappointed feelings as you recently. I love this reminder that putting God first is everything. The way I look, my career…basically everything that causes me stress and anxiety is not important if I focus on God.

  2. Tina says

    02/28/2016 at 4:19 pm

    You are definitely not alone!!! I have been feeling this way for some time now! Leaving my home town and everything and everybody I ever knew was left behind. Not to mention the whole aging process. I just have not felt like my “old self”. I need to look at me as God does too, Chelsea! Thanks for sharing and touching my heart and opening my eyes! As you often do! With love, Aunt Tina?

  3. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/02/2016 at 3:41 pm

    Thank you, for your comment, Megan. It’s always good to know there are others out there who have felt what you do.

  4. Kimberley says

    03/05/2016 at 9:49 am

    For some reason my Bloglovin’ keeps unfollowing you, so I came to have a look at what I have missed. Thank you for sharing this. I have been going through something similar recently and didn’t fully realise what was going on. So thank you.

  5. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/15/2016 at 6:55 pm

    Kimberly, I’m so glad you were encouraged by this. I think this is a truth/lesson God will be rooting in me for a long time.

  6. Nicole says

    03/23/2016 at 6:59 pm

    Hi! Totally can relate to this. Its so spot on about how we are told to love ourselves but if this love is not fueled by him but by things of this world which are forever changing, then that isn’t true love – or rather, it” be bouts of love interspersed with periods of self loathing and hate – which are obviously not from God. Really encouraged by your post , you’re a great writer! Keep shining for God :)

  7. Chelsea B.E. says

    03/24/2016 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you, Nicole! Your words are inspiring also.

Trackbacks

  1. Monday must-reads! - Apron Strings and Sticky Fingers says:
    03/13/2016 at 11:11 pm

    […] identity is in God and that changes […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

A Photographic #TBT Post

I'm Chelsea... a wife, mom and friend who enjoys all things peanut butter, clean beauty, the written word, and a good sports movie. This is my place to share real life and Biblical encouragement to draw us all to deeper joy in God. Pull up your favorite internet browser and stay awhile!

Search

Time Machine

Series

  • Clothe Yourself With
  • Joy Triggers
  • Perspectives
  • Truth To Consider
  • Current Read
  • Reading and Listening
“I told you about my life, and you answered me; “I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word. Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.” Psalms‬ ‭119:26-32 CSB‬‬
18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of t 18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of the slide’ club
“We must reflect that, when we reach the end of “We must reflect that, when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default. We are at risk, without quite fully realizing it, of living lives that are less our own than we imagine.” William James

With the help of God, may we strive to become abiding and attentive people instead of distracted and defeated people.
The entire thing is He loved me first. And even wh The entire thing is He loved me first. And even when our surroundings are burning or when all we see is rubble, there is an unseen Kingdom to serve, a Family to be part of, and a powerful Love to give and receive. 

Every week it seems I’m inspired by a comment a friend and pastor made years ago — “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about the truth of Jesus. Think of it as joining a conversation God might already be having with that person.” 

May we be conduits of that strong, courageous, welcoming, comforting, healing, transforming, sustaining, peacemaking, eternal Love. Or as Bernice King said, “Love puts in work.”
Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’ Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’
“God is always coming to you in the sacrament of “God is always coming to you in the sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude.” Evelyn Underhill 

Such brokenness we see, such pain, such fear. Attend to Jesus — Lord, Savior, King — with all your honest thoughts and feelings, and let His power and love change you. Let Him form and re-form you into a help for the hurting, a bright spot for those in the dark, a presence for others to rest in. A ‘little Christ’ on the earth.

 ^ what I’m rehearsing to myself
Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfil Living life with the Holy Spirit — “you fulfill the will of God through the inner influence of His Spirit instead of the outer influence of the law of God” (David Guzik).

This took me probably 15 years of following Jesus to grasp. It felt too easy, my willpower was my measuring stick, and the freedom was terrifying. 

But alas, God’s way is the best way, and there is no substitute for the Holy Spirit. I can’t muster spiritual fruit, but His goal, thankfully and marvelously, is vineyards and vineyards.

May we surrender this work to Him.
“The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must en “The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring: these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.” Parker J. Palmer
I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me rec I pose to you what the Holy Spirit posed to me recently: What if you made choices out of fear of missing out on God instead of fear of missing out on what others deem significant?

In all honesty, FOMO sneaks up on me not along paths of a friend’s travel adventures or home decor or even if friends hang out without me. My FOMO animal comes in the form of popular and effective Christian voices. Because of technology and social media, I have access, though not complete (because we’re not actual friends), to their lives and ministry, their work and the personality they choose to share online. While a good thing in many ways, it stops being good when it becomes an avalanche I can’t keep up with but am afraid to stop.

// new blog post: FOMO on God //
zoom zoom zoom zoom

Listening

  • Knowing Faith
  • Home Fires
  • Gospel In Life
  • Be The Bridge

Your skin is your body's largest organ. How are you caring for it?

Let's talk clean beauty.

Reading

  • Isabel Wilkerson
  • Adam Alter
  • Elisabeth Elliot
  • Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson

Copyright © 2021 chelsea eubank · Theme by 17th Avenue