Who Are You?

Who are you? No, really, who are you? Take a moment to think about it. Then, in your own words, describe yourself. Write it down if you need to.

Did you start with physical descriptions like your height, hair color, gender, etc.? Or maybe you thought of your age first? Does the answer to who you are rely solely on your outward appearance?

Perhaps, you didn’t start with the physical descriptions. Maybe you described yourself by some external characteristics, like the the country, state, or city you were born into. Are you American, African, European, etc.? Do you think of yourself as a Kentuckian, Alabamian, New Yorker, etc.? Does your location or ethnicity determine who you are?

Maybe your first thought was of your family role. Are you a mom or a dad? Grandparent, aunt, or uncle? Maybe you’re the youngest in your family, or possibly the oldest. Maybe you’re a middle child. Or maybe you thought of your relationship status to define you. Are you single, married, engaged? Is that how you describe yourself?

Does your job describe you? Are you a teacher, police officer, social worker, farmer, student, etc.? Are you defined by your 9 to 5? Does your job title, or lack of a job title truly really tell the world all they need to know about you?

Did you describe yourself by your social groups? Are you an athlete or are you brainy? Maybe both? Are you popular? Introvert or Extrovert? What is your Myers-Briggs type? Are you the funny one in your group of friends, or are you the take charge leader of the group? Does that role define who you are in all the areas of your life?

We often choose to describe ourselves based on things we are proud of. Things we want to be known for, or things we can boast about. These are the things we want others to think about when they think of us.

But I think if you are honest, you probably also have a list of words you use to describe yourself that you are less proud of. We tend to keep this second list to ourselves, because we don’t want anyone else to know these things about us. Maybe that list contains words like this: fat, ugly, unimportant, talentless, divorced, unwanted, liar, drunk, boring, sad, unloved, sinner, etc.

Though less public, these types of descriptions are often the way we see ourselves. And I think we are all secretly afraid that those descriptions are who we really are, and the good descriptions are just a fake persona; a mask that we wear to hide from others. I think most people find it easier to believe the bad about ourselves more than the good.

But is that really who you are?

Is our identity more rooted in the good things about us or the bad? Is it founded in things we have little or no control over: where we were born, our height, or who our family is? Does our identity come from the choices we make? Does it come from how other people think about you?

What truly defines a person? It is a deep and complicated question, and many people spend their whole life searching for the answer.

From an early age, we tend to look to those around us for the answer. But can anyone really tell us who we are? I don't think so. I certainly can't tell you who you are. And for reference, here is a list of other people who I believe are also incapable of truly answering that question for you: Your parents, your spouse, your children, your friends, your boss or coworkers, your neighbors, your coach or teammates, the high school bully, popular celebrities, politicians, musicians, classmates, your boyfriend or girlfriend, etc. 

None of those people can completely tell you who you are. Not really. They might be able to point you in the right direction, but their answers are never enough. Any identity you get from them will be just a partial shell. It can never hold up and will always leave you feeling incomplete or inadequate.

However, there is someone who can answer that deep question of our identity. And He knows the answer because He is the one who created us in the first place. He made each of us unique and with a purpose. God did not mess up when He made you. I'm going to say that again because its worth repeating. God did not mess up when He made you.

And thankfully, He left many answers about our identity for us in His word. Here are just a few of the things God says about who you are:


You are God’s Child
Galatians 3:26
John 1:12
1 John 3:1

You were created in God’s image
Ephesians 4:24

You are a citizen of Heaven
Philippians 3:20

You are completely and utterly forgiven
1 John 1:9

You are Jesus’ friend
John 15:15

You are a temple of God
1 Corinthians 6:19

You are alive in Christ
Ephesians 2:5

You are God’s messenger to the world
Acts 1:8

You are made to be light in a dark world
Matthew 5:14

You are free from condemnation
Romans 8:1

You are righteous through God
2 Corinthians 5:21

Fear doesn’t have a hold on You
2 Timothy 1:7

God is the source of your strength
Phillipians 4:13

You are a conqueror
Romans 8:37

You were handmade by God
Psalm 193:14
Ephesians 2:10

You are valuable to God
1 Corinthians 6:20

God has a purpose for you
Romans 8:28
Jeremiah 29:11

God guards your heart and mind
Phillipians 4:7

God loves you
Romans 5:8
1 John 3:1
1 John 4:16-19
Galatians 2:20
Jeremiah 31:3
John 3:16
Ephesians 2:4-5
1 Peter 5:6-7
Romans 8:37-39


If you are reading this, please know that God loves you so very much. And He really does have a plan for you. He chose you and created you. He knows everything you have been, everything you are now, and everything you ever will be. He knows your successes and your failures, your triumphs and your mistakes. Nothing you do will ever change His love for you. He gave you life. He has a purpose for you, and it’s a great purpose. The only thing we need to do is believe in Him.

The answers we seek about who we are, can only fully be revealed through Jesus Christ. Your identity is found in Him. And when you embrace who you are in Christ, it will set you free.