My family loves Disney, and our latest fascination/obsession is with the movie Encanto. A miraculous house grants powers to the family members who live there. For some reason, the heroine, Mirabel, isn’t given a gift or power when she comes of age, and the story tells of her search to find meaning in life as just an “ordinary” person.
Her sisters feel a different kind of pressure as they seek to live up to the gifts they’ve been given.
Isabela sings, “What could I do if I knew it didn’t need to be perfect?” in “What Else Can I Do?”
Louisa sings, “I’m pretty sure I’m worthless if I can’t be of service,” in “Surface Pressure.”
Don’t we all feel this way? Finding out who we are is a task for the young, but it is also something we face as we age and our circumstances change. If I retire, and I’m not a doctor anymore, who am I? Now that my daughters have all begun their own beautiful lives and I am not called upon to mother them every day, who am I? And doesn’t the world call us worthless if we can’t somehow be useful to society? Ouch.
As I shared this sense of shifting identity with one of my daughters, she said, “But you didn’t mention your Christian identity.” And she was right.
My identity in Christ isn’t based on what I can do or how perfect I am. It’s based solely on God’s love for me. He doesn’t care that I’m not perfect or strong or even useful. He knows me better than anyone else and loves me anyway.
So, my friends, if you are struggling to claim your identity, or find your gift, or identify your power, remember this:
Your identity is God’s beloved child.
Your gift is his unfailing and unconditional love, and your power is his love within you.
Though the mountains fall away and the hills be shaken,
My love shall never fall away from you
nor my covenant of peace be shaken,
says the Lord (Isaiah 54:10).
I’d love to hear your comments below, and if you know someone who could use this encouragement, please share.
