To Be or Not to Be

Who am I?

The Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). To know who we are we must first be what we are. This might seem obvious, but I wonder if we are what we appear to be? Or do we try to project an image of what we would like to be in the hope that our true self would not be recognised. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3).

David the shepherd boy knew who he was. He knew his limitations, but also knew his potential in God. He destroyed Goliath the giant with a slingshot. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45). David put up no pretence or false bravado. His confidence was in God. This was his strength. Can we say the same?

We need to know our strengths as well as our weaknesses. If we are constantly aware of our insecurities, struggling to cope with the pressures around us and feeling our pain, this becomes our identity. We learn to accept these things because “that is who we are.” But this is not God’s way. The key is to bring our ways into line with God’s will and His word, so that we can live and work together in the same direction. It’s as if we are the boat and He is the rudder.

So, we have a choice, to be driven by self-centred ways of worldly principles, or be guided by the hand of God.

People might say, “You just need to be yourself.” If we don’t know who we are, being blown along by the wind of the world, then we’re no better than a leaf fluttering aimlessly in the breeze. If we only want to make a life for ourselves and put all our efforts into achieving our aims, we might succeed. But it’s like a paper crown. Can we be bold enough to say to the Lord, “not my will, but yours be done,” and be guided by His word and His Spirit? Then we can become like David and giants will fall at our feet.

We will no doubt encounter all kinds of difficulties and pressures, but we must remember “the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared” (Proverbs 3:26). Then, and only then, can we know our true identity as we live in the peace, power, and protection of God, able to respond to all our fears with the words of David. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.”