Who am I? is an age-old question. It is easy to respond with a summary of your roles, achievements, degrees, career, or job title. But I think we could all agree that those simple answers do not begin to explain who God made you, what passions ultimately motivate your decisions, or what you value most in this world.
IF YOUR FEARS HAVE EVER FELT BIGGER THAN YOUR DREAM, THIS WAS THE EPISODE FOR YOU.
If you know Jesus, the churchy, Sunday school answer about our identity is that we are children of God. But what does that really mean? And how do we begin to accept, much less understand and live out, our identity in Christ?
The best path I have found toward greater understanding about my identity in Christ has been to look at times in my life when I sought my identity elsewhere, whether it was a job, a relationship (or lack thereof), or even in the group of friends I hung out with. I only discovered that I had misplaced my identity in hindsight, looking back at seasons of my life where I felt emotionally crushed after losing something or someone in which I tried to find my value or worth.
Fear provides another clue about our misplaced identity. If we are afraid of taking a baby step toward our dream, that could be driven by a fear of what someone might think of us, or of failing, or of figuring out we aren’t up to the task. That’s why this solo episode is all about how our fears can provide clues to uncovering our misplaced identity.
In this episode, you’ll discover the value of acknowledging what drives your fears. But you will need to tune in next month to hear what to do about it. In the meantime, though, I’m challenging you to really look at what you’re holding tight to and what, if you lost it, would crush you.
Please know that this is a shame-free, judgment-free zone. We all struggle to figure out who we are and where to find our value and worth. So many things in this world—not to mention our enemy—tempt us to believe we can find hope in something beyond Jesus. Even when we intellectually know that’s not true, it can be difficult to figure out how to live that way.
This episode might feel a bit like I’m leaving you hanging, but that’s only because the answer to this question is not one I can give you. Instead, I’m asking you to do a little digging into your heart and see where you might have fears that are driven by misplaced identity. That is, you’re putting your hope in something besides Jesus and it’s keeping you stuck in the same place.
There are a few episodes I mentioned that you’ll want to go back to, if you haven’t heard them already:
Ep 96 – When Fear Tries to Tell You You’re Not Enough – released Oct 17, 2018
Ep 119 – How to Stop Fear from Stealing Your Dream – released May 15, 2019
This solo episode is tied directly to my last five solo episodes, listed below, in case you want to listen in order.
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MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Episode 107 – Solo Episode – You are a Daughter of the Most High King
Episode 110 – Solo Episode – You Have Great Value and Worth
Episode 113 – Solo Episode – You Were Created for a Reason
Episode 116 – Solo Episode – Two Simple Reasons Your Dream is Not About You
Episode 119 – Solo Episode – How to Stop Fear from Stealing Your Dream
Kindled Podcast with Haley Williams
Sign up for my monthly Dream Letter HERE: Bit.ly/dreamltr
Cari Jenkins’ website and previous Devoted Dreamers episodes:
Believing the God Who Sees You – Ep 109
How to Trust God When Dreams Disappoint – Ep 51
SCRIPTURE:
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
~ Psalm 91:14-16
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The Devoted Dreamers Podcast is produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
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