After my oldest son was born, I felt like I didn\u2019t know who I was anymore. I had always been a high achiever, goal-oriented, go-getter. I thrived on appreciation, attention and achievement. So when I felt the tug deep in my heart to step into a season of stay-at-home mothering, of performing for the very small audience of my newborn, it was a shock to my system.<\/p>\n
I floundered for a while, felt like I was withering on the vine. Who was I if no one saw what I did? If I didn\u2019t get a performance review? If I didn\u2019t earn any money or praise?<\/p>\n
That season revealed a dark truth within my own heart. I had a deeply misguided sense of identity. I had defined myself by what I did, what I produced, for years. I had attributed my worth to my paycheck and my value to what other people said about me. But slowly, God began to break down the false sense of self I had constructed.<\/p>\n
I realized that whatever I did, whether flashy or mundane, something to celebrate or something to hide, God treasured me all the same.<\/p>\n
He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs<\/em> (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT).<\/p>\n Slowly, I began to realize that my identity is not rooted in what I do, but in what has been done for me.<\/p>\n For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith\u2014and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God\u2014not by works, so that no one can boast<\/em> (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).<\/p>\n No matter what we do, no matter what season of life we\u2019re in, our identity is rooted in this: we are loved, treasured and redeemed by God. May we rest in that.<\/p>\n But you are a chosen people,\u00a0a royal priesthood,\u00a0a holy nation,\u00a0God\u2019s special possession,\u00a0that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light<\/em> (1 Peter 2:9, NIV).<\/p>\n Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n