What went wrong? Where do I find identity?

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10(b).

I am sure most of us heard that famous lyrics of Lauren Daigle, “you say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing,
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And You say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don’t belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You, I find my worth, in You I find my identity, ooh oh.”

People can generally relate to that song because it is a reality of many who struggle to figure out what went wrong.  Or the people who try to find identity in the wrong places.

We want to find out an identity with some who loves unconditionally; someone mightier than us who holds us tightly when we fall short or fall apart; someone who says you belong to me, no matter what!  Then we get discouraged. You see, the reason is this -people’s love could change. Their care could change. One day they say you belong to them. Another day they would reject you. One day they would hold you dearly, and later they let you fall apart.

However, God says He loves you regardless because He created you,  saved you, and set His everlasting love on you. God is mightier than all, and  He holds you when you fall short. When you feel you do not belong anywhere, He says you belong to Him. God spoke, and it is written in Isaiah 49:6 (a), “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”
Sometimes it is hard to understand God’s love and care.

We suspect whether we are held by Him or belong to Him. Apostle Paul, the great servant of the Lord, felt the same way. He prayed for God’s help, but His prayers had only one response from the Lord. It said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In short, the Lord did not answer the way he wanted. Instead, he gave sufficient grace in the midst of his issues. Now Paul experienced strength even when he was weak. He wrote, “for when I am weak, then I am strong. The reason is that Paul’s weakness is made perfect by the power of the all-sufficient grace of the Lord.

If the Lord did not answer your prayer as you wanted, maybe He asks you to believe in His promise that His powerful grace is sufficient for you in the midst of your issues. When you feel weak, then you will be strong, not because of anything from your part. But because of God’s mercy, loving-kindness, steadfast love, and power of grace are with you- The power of His grace makes you strong even when you are weak. Therefore, as Apostle Paul wrote, you will discover- you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.

Find your identity in the unconditional love and powerful grace of God. Like the above-cited song sings -you are loved when you can’t feel a thing. You are strong when you think you are weak. You are held tight when you fall short or fall apart.

Beloved, the Bible says this about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 8:9. It says,  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake, he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became poor –He became a man, even became a servant. Finally, He died a cursed and shameful death on the cruel cross for your sins and mistakes-that you might become rich in Him. Grace makes you not just powerful when you are weak.  It also makes you rich, although you are low now.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you that I am loved in your Son, Jesus Christ. I am powerful when I am weak. I am held by you, although I may feel fall short. I thank you for Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who became poor for me. I believe He died for my sins, buried, and rose again. I accept the grace and forgiveness available in Jesus Christ. Please save me now. In the name of Christ, I  pray. Amen.”