Our identity as Christians is not found in our achievements or possessions but in our relationship with Jesus Christ. – Rick Warren

There’s a humorous story of a visit by the president of the United States to a nursing home. The president entered the facility with his entourage and was received with delight by the elderly residents. As he went from person to person in the living area, he noticed a woman in a wheelchair who seemed rather disinterested. Months of campaigning for election had taught him how to “work the room.” He didn’t want to offend someone who might be around to vote in the next election. So, he approached her, smiled, patted her shoulder and gently squeezed her frail hand. She smiled back but said nothing. “Do you know who I am?” the president asked. “No,” she replied, “but if you ask the lady at the nurses’ station, she’ll tell you.”

Many of us can relate to that classic song by The Who. 

Who are you? I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

Come on, tell me who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Because I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)  

In every heart there’s a longing to know: Who am I? Why am I here? Does anyone love me? These aren’t just abstract musings. They’re deep existential questions. In today’s world, answers are often pursued through career milestones, social media personas, romantic relationships, sexual or substance abuse, or political activism. Yet in these pursuits of meaning, so many are left feeling unhinged, disoriented, or empty. 

Maybe you’re like me? For years I struggled with questioning if God really loved me. Because I never measured up with my dad and he seemed always upset with me, I struggled with, “Does God really love me?” 

Insecurity and anxiety aren’t just for “normal” people. If you google it, you’ll find a long list of celebrities who struggle with it from Tom Hanks and Dwayne Johnson to Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez. 

Our hope and the cure can’t be found in the opinions of others. It’s in the gospel, it’s in Jesus. We must anchor our hearts in God’s promises found in His Word, the Bible. The gospel puts forth something very different and absolutely safe. Every Christ-follower has a secure identity rooted in God’s beloved Son and meaningful purpose anchored in His love.

For example, as a child I was told I was an accident. BUT I wasn’t. Scripture affirms this: It is He who made us, and we are His (Psalm 100:3). God’s Word opens by declaring that all humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). That’s our powerful foundation for dignity and worth. We mirror God in our creativity, moral sense, relationships, and capacity to love. Yet, God’s image has been marred by sin, leaving a void in each of us. It’s why Augustine prayed, You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You. 

This restlessness drives our identity crises and purpose-fueled anxieties. We attempt to self-create an identity through achievements or affiliations, but it will never bring lasting peace. The gospel invites us into a different story. Through Jesus Christ, we become new creations. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That’s not poetic fluff. It means you’re not a collection of traits or titles. When you’re born-again, you become God’s child. You become His friend, part of His forever family, a citizen of heaven, a member of a royal priesthood…to name a few of your blessings in Christ that are part of your eternal inheritance.

One anchor verse for my insecure heart is Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I continually felt like a loser, that I didn’t measure up and worst of all that God was always mad at me. If you also struggle with that, I’ve got fantastic news – God is not mad at you! He poured out all His mad, wrath and justice on Jesus, for you and me. All of our sin was paid for on the cross – past, present and future. God loves us unconditionally. We only confess and repent of sin, not to get Him to stop being mad at us, but to get the poison out of our lives and restore our fellowship with the Father. 

It’s a bit like when I blow it with Jane (it happens more than I want to admit). Jane doesn’t stop loving me, even for a second, yet our relationship needs repairs. Wonderfully, neither God nor Jane get historical. In Hebrews 8:12 God promises us, I will remember their sins no more.

You don’t earn God’s love, you receive it. Tim Keller often said that our identity in Christ is the only identity not based on performance. That means you have nothing to prove and nothing to fear. When you know whose you are, certain questions are put to rest. You’re accepted through Christ’s sacrifice. You’re significant because God loves you and has a plan for you. You’re secure! Nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39).

One of the reasons that we have a Sunday “Sword Challenge” at Grace is to encourage you to memorize God’s promises. They’re our defense weapon when Satan attacks with His lies. The anchor of our hope is in God and His Word. Mediate and soak your heart in His promises. One of my personal go-to passages for encouragement is Romans 8.  

Most of us struggle to feel accepted. The Message paraphrases 1 Peter 2:9-10: You are the ones chosen by God…from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (1 Peter 2:9-10). We can spend our entire lives trying to earn acceptance. We seek it from our parents, peers, partners, from those we respect and even those we envy. Our longing to be accepted influences the kind of clothes we wear, the kind of car we drive, the house we buy, and even the career we choose.

We love that feeling of acceptance. We want to know that someone loves us, has chosen us and accepted us. Do you remember playing ball as a kid and picking the teams? Usually, the two best players were captains. As they chose their teams, you were thinking, “I hope I get chosen early.” The worst players no one wanted got picked last. 

Did you know that with God, you’re not a leftover. He chose you. He loves you. Your picture is on His milk carton!

Paul Faulkner tells of a man who was in the process of adopting a very troubled teenage girl. Friends questioned his thinking. The girl was destructive, disobedient, and dishonest. One day she came home from school and ransacked the house looking for money. By the time he arrived, she was gone but the house was in shambles. Learning of her actions, friends urged him not to finalize the adoption. “Let her go,” they said. “After all, she’s not really your daughter.” His response was simply, “Yes, I know. But I told her she was.”

We’re always making a mess. Yet, God, too, has told us that we’re His son or daughter, if we’ve trusted in Him. We may rebel, leave our life in shambles, yet our loving Heavenly Father still tells us that we are His! 

Do you want to know who you are? If you’ve committed your life to the Savior, you’re God’s precious child…no matter what!

Who are YOU?