Discovering Your True Identity
A Life of Purpose Begins with God’s Eternal Plan
Before the world was created, God had a plan to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. This plan has always been in motion, and it gives Him great pleasure (Ephesians 1:4-5). While self-help books suggest that following our desires and dreams will lead to self-discovery, I’ve learned that this approach falls short. Our journey must begin with our Creator and His eternal purposes for our lives.
A Life of Uncertainty
I was born to German parents in Ukraine, which was then part of Russia. During World War II, my mother fled with four small children, always staying one step ahead of the Russian front. We lived in refugee camps across Europe, feeling like second-rate citizens. Later, when we immigrated to Canada, I struggled to fit in with my peers. I didn’t speak English, couldn’t relate to the culture, and was hopeless at sports. I felt like a misfit, and this negative mindset followed me into adulthood.
A Life Transformed by God’s Love
But then I heard the life-changing message: Jesus loved me enough to die for me, and He wanted to adopt me into His family through Jesus Christ. If I received Him as my Savior and Lord, I would become a child of God, and He would accept me just as I am. One day, I asked Him to come into my life, and He did! Slowly, I began to understand that because Jesus lives within me, I have a place, a destiny, and an eternal inheritance.
Celebrating My New Identity
I felt compelled to celebrate my new identity by giving myself the name Grace. Every time I write my name, Helen Grace Lescheid, I’m reminded that I belong to the best family in the world – God’s family. And it’s all because of God’s grace.
Your Faith Journey
Where are you on your faith journey? Have life’s challenges left you feeling excluded or defined by hurtful experiences? Remember, these things don’t have to dictate your identity. Stop listening to the world and the negative voice within you. Instead, listen to what God says about you. The real truth about you is found in Ephesians 1:3-14. Replace “we” or “us” with your name, and speak these verses out loud to yourself, affirming, “this is who I really am.”
May You Experience the Power of the Risen Christ
Father, may all who read these words today experience the power of the risen Christ within them, walking with dignity, confidence, and joy.
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