Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and research in identity psychology suggest that, by a certain age, our identity is shaped by our experiences—abuses, losses, mistakes, and rejections. Critical identity formation typically begins between ages 13 and 19 as we explore our values, beliefs, and self-perception. By ages 20 to 30, this identity tends to solidify, influenced by education, career, environment, experiences, and relationships
One of the biggest dangers of impostor syndrome is that it makes you focus on who you think you are, or who you’ve come to believe you are, rather than who God says you are. But your identity is not found in what you do, where you come from, or what others think of you nor is it based on your experiences; rather, it is found in Jesus Christ.
This means that, ideally, a day-old baby in Jesus Christ has the same identity as a 30-, 60-, or 90-year-old person. Let’s call it the JESUS PERSONALITY. This personality is constant; it is not changed by how we feel, what we think, our experiences, pedigree, or qualifications.
“As He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)
Jesus said in Matthew 25:45 that whatever is done to the least of His brothers is done to Him. That is how deeply He identifies with us!
When we see ourselves the way God sees us, we will walk in confidence, knowing that our abilities and assignments are not about us but essentially about God working through us. The more you discover who Jesus is, the more you will discover who you truly are.
When I meet someone burdened with guilt, unable to move past something they’ve done or feeling unworthy of what God is doing through them, I often ask, “Have you killed a man and taken his wife, or killed a woman and taken her husband?” The shock on their faces excites me because it’s the perfect moment to share about God’s boundless love and unmerited grace.
David, one of the most celebrated figures in the Bible, committed this very heinous act. Yet, Scripture still calls him a man after God’s own heart. Despite all his mistakes and the bloodshed he was responsible for, the Bible says David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and never failed to keep any of God’s commands throughout his life; except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. Even for this sin, God forgave him. (Acts 13:22, 1 Kings 15:5).
God chose David and elected him to be king; not only over Israel, but also to be the lineage that would usher in our Lord Jesus Christ. This was by grace and mercy, not based on his good works, abilities or pedigree, in fact, he was just a Shepard boy when God anointed him King. Our faithfulness doesn’t make God unfaithful; even more, His love is so boundless and limitless that absolutely nothing can separate us from it; perhaps only we ourselves can, when we reject Him. This is what makes the gospel of Jesus Christ such good news!
The Truth About Discovering Yourself: Who You Are Without Christ
Do you really want to discover yourself? And even if you did, of what real benefit would it be? You may find things about yourself that are so appalling, you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with yourself. Let me be honest with you about what I’ve personally discovered about myself; who I am outside of Christ. I am prone to anger, fear, anxiety, selfishness, stubbornness, and laziness. I am so introverted that I would rather avoid human interaction altogether. On my own, I lack the drive to answer God’s call. Now tell me, of what use is that version of me to God and humanity? In fact, I would rather not embark on the journey of discovering “myself.” I don’t want any identity outside of Jesus Christ.
The first time I came across Judges 19, I was truly confused. I just couldn’t make sense of it. I believe that every scripture points to Jesus Christ, so for days, I found myself pondering its meaning, trying to understand how this particular chapter pointed to Him. What significance did it hold for that book of the Bible, and more broadly, for the entire Bible itself? As I meditated on it, the pieces slowly began to fall into place. The Holy Spirit guided me through one study after another, and eventually, it became clear: outside of Christ, man is a brute—vile, wicked, and incapable of anything good. The Israelites were the apple of God’s eye, the very people He had set apart for Himself, chosen for salvation, His own treasured people. Yet, when they stepped outside of Him, when they surrendered to “themselves,” they descended into the worst of sins. They allowed their flesh to rule over them, becoming destructive, lawless, spiraling into ruin, and doing even worse things than Sodom and Gomorrah.
But when I give myself to God, to His Word, and to prayer, I draw strength, grace, and courage to rise above these weaknesses; I become a reflection of Jesus Christ. His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When anything is accomplished through me, I know; without a shadow of a doubt; that it could not have been me! This makes it easy to give all the glory to God, to depend on Him daily, and to die to myself, just as Scripture says: “I die daily.” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
Instead of focusing on discovering yourself, shift your focus to discovering Jesus Christ.
The Bible commands us to “mortify the deeds of the flesh,” meaning we are to put to death our sin nature (Romans 8:13). Our flesh and soul must come into alignment with the Holy Spirit, who now resides within us. And not only does He reside within us, but our spirits have become one with Him: *”But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
So, tell me, how can someone who is joined with the Holy Spirit of God be an impostor? If anything, wherever such a person goes, it is a privilege and a blessing to have them there. This is how you ought to see yourself. See yourself as who God says you are: the light of the world, the salt of the earth, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14) and so much more!
Embrace Your Calling: Understanding Your Purpose and Audience
You have to come to terms with the fact that not everyone will love you, accept you, believe in your assignment, or even embrace your vision; or all that God is doing through you; and that should be okay! You can’t force your message or mission on people, nor are you sent to everyone.
Jesus recognized that He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24).
Paul, understanding his assignment, knew he was primarily called to the Gentiles. In Acts 9:15, God says to Ananias about Paul: “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”
On the other hand, Peter was primarily called to the Jews. In Galatians 2:7-8, Paul refers to Peter as the “Apostle to the Jews,”
Understanding the specifics of your calling not only helps streamline your audience but also enables you to run with greater precision. This is why Habakkuk tells us, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2).
In 1975, Bill Bright and Loren Cunningham both received a divine revelation that transforming a nation for Christ requires believers to influence and take leadership in seven key areas of society. These areas, now known as the Seven Mountains of Influence, include Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Arts & Entertainment, and Business/Finance. Each of these mountains needs the gospel, and none is more important than the others. Every individual called to a specific mountain has a mission just as vital as the rest. Scripture says, ‘There is one body, but many members’ (1 Corinthians 12:12), emphasizing the unique yet unified role of each believer in advancing God’s kingdom.
Imagine if I were called to the family mountain, but because I admire someone in the entertainment or sports industry, I tried to function there. That would be a futile and frustrating endeavor. However, I believe it’s possible; and even common; for some people to be called to more than one mountain.
I believe it is in this spirit; the spirit of orderliness and division of labor; that we have different gifts placed within the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Not everyone is called to be a prophet, and not everyone is called to be a pastor. If we all were, there would be an imbalance in the body of Christ. Scripture reminds us that it is the same Spirit who empowers us all, giving each of us unique gifts for the effective functioning of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.”
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t preach to others or that our ministry is limited to specific people. We’ve been sent to preach the gospel to the whole world. But for the sake of division of labor, it’s natural that we are all deployed as Soldiers to various mountains, each one equally important.
Minister to people whenever you get the chance, regardless of whether they are the ones you are specifically sent to. But know who you are called to and give special attention to them. While Jesus focused on the lost sheep of Israel, He still healed the Canaanite woman who approached Him for healing. Similarly, in Acts 10, God gave Peter a vision that led him to preach to Cornelius, a Gentile. Likewise, Paul preached to the Jews on many occasions and never missed an opportunity to share the gospel.
