Who Are You?

This simple question seems to be the question of our culture. Our culture is asking, “Who or what do you identify as?” It’s a simple question: Who are you? Yet it’s not so simple to answer.

When we first meet someone, often the first question we ask is, “What do you do for a living?” It’s our way of trying to understand who someone is. After all, most men get the core of their identity from what they do. I think this is why some people will have a tendency to feel “worthless” if they don’t do anything worthwhile.

So, who are you—really? Who are you when no one is watching? Who do you want to become? At your core, who are you?

I think this is one of life’s most important questions, and how you answer it will dictate how you live. Our culture will tell you that you can be whomever or whatever you want, and to a large degree, our culture is right. We have so many freedoms and choices today. It can be confusing and even paralyzing trying to navigate through all the possibilities.

I believe you have to get this simple but hard question answered at a very deep level in your mind and soul. I also know that you have to reaffirm this often. The distractions of this world are always pulling us into a different direction, and if you do not have this settled, you might end up somewhere you don’t want to be.

I must confess that when I think of this question, I usually think about what I do or I think of my relationships. I am a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a doctor, a hunter, a runner, and the list goes on. And I am all of these things, but there is a different and deeper undercurrent to who I am.

I also know from experience that if I have any of these things as my core identity, I’m going to end up frustrated and disappointed. None of these is bad, and I am all of these things. If I make any of them my central thing, my first idea, I will be disappointed.

As followers of Christ, if we don’t have this idea settled and settled correctly, we will be frustrated. Our core identity has to come from Him and be Him. If, at our core, we are anything else, we will be disappointed. And we have to remember this at every moment because we are being pulled in so many directions.

I am a Christ follower first and foremost. My many roles are filtered through this identity, and when I get this right, I am a better father, a better son, a better brother, a better doctor, a better version of me. My core identity has to be from Him and in Him always. If I forget this, I will end up somewhere I don’t want to be.

The great thing about our God is that He is a God who always forgives and is always waiting on us to return to Him. He never forsakes us. He never leaves us. He never abandons us. His love for us never ceases, and in Him we can find our identity and can find His rest. It’s not too late to get this right. You can not mess up so bad that He cannot fix you.

I want to encourage you to take a few minutes and reflect on who you are at your deepest level. Having Christ at the center of your identity helps remove the confusion and frustrations you might be experiencing if you’re letting our culture dictate who you are. If you do not have Christ at the center of your core, it isn’t too late to make some changes.

So, one last time, who are you?