BY: MEGAN DRAKE
Right off the bat, I would just like to say I have a praise report (I’m stealing Sunday school’s coined term):
Jordyn Got A Job!
Can I get a Whooohooo?! I thought I would share it with you all because Jordy, as you know, is one of the humblest people and would never publicly celebrate her own accomplishments, so I am going to do it for her. God is so good and opened all the right doors, & although it may not be her dream job, she continues to praise Him for His provision. I thought we could all sing of God’s praises together as a Body of Christ.
With that, I want to talk about something deep (because we always post surfacey stuff, right?). I want to talk about identity. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that identity has been coming up a lot in my life lately. Everything from church sermons to the books I’m reading – I think God is trying to tell me something… I have always heard we are all different, like snowflakes. Each with an individual design, not one the same as the last. Somehow that simile has lost its weight over the years. Now when I hear that I’m special I roll my eyes thinking I’m too old for this (my age is 23 but by soul is 43) as I spend most of my time trying to convince myself I’m cool, not that I’m special. It goes something like this:
Jordyn and I go out for a drink, as we are standing sipping our drinks we are telling each other we are cool enough for this. Much like the Regina’s mom on Mean Girls. “Im not like other moms, Im a cool mom.” It has become the running joke around here whenever we do something out of our comfort zone.
Just yesterday I had to convince myself I was cool enough to apply at a bar as a bus boy (or girl in my case, but the alteration just sounds so much better). While putting off applying for the job, & getting yet another unclear answer as I basically put myself on the front lines of the job hunt battle, I went to grab a cinnamon latte & read. Currently I’m reading the Chronicles of Narnia (Thanks Tim for the housewarming gift!) but I am a slow reader & decided I would take a break to let Jordyn pass me up. So, in the mean time, I’m reading The Truest Thing About You by David Lomas. And as you can guess, the book is about identity.
One particular part of the book pulled at my heart strings. He is talking about his big move to San Fransisco to start a church and says this:
It took several trips to San Francisco, all spent praying. It took many late-night conversations with God. It took me playing what-if with every possible worst-case scenario. And slowly it clicked. If I went to San Francisco and utterly failed, it wouldn’t change anything. I was beloved of God. Even if I earned a reputation. “oh yeah, Dave, he tried, he failed, now he’s back in Bakersfield, working at Trader Joe’s.” So what? That wouldn’t change a thing. (And who knows – it might still happen!) Slowly, achingly slowly, I was learning to understand that I am deeply loved by God, and because of Jesus,God is well pleased with me. Every other identity I create for myself is an illusion.
Wow. When I read those words on the page, it was like Dave was telling my story. But instead of San Fran, it was Ireland, & instead of Bakersfield, it was Golden. I have unknowingly placed my entire identity in moving here to Ireland. I have unknowingly placed my identity in what I do – Hi, I’m Megan and I am unemployed – I am letting those things define me. This identity of an adventurer, traveling the world & moving to Ireland is an illusion I have created for myself. Who would I be if I was stripped clean of all of this? There, in Costa Coffee, I was convicted.
We are all made in God’s image, different than anything else ever created. Did you catch that? Different than anything else ever created, just with that we are set apart. But there is more, we were all created for a unique, big purpose in His Kingdom. Although, even as I write this I am trying to believe I am beloved, I am convinced Jesus takes our unbelief and carries it for us. So, today, as I sit alone at my apartment scared I might fail, might forever be unemployed, might be heading back to Colorado short of the year I planned, I give those things to The Lord and ask He helps me in my unbelief.
So say it with me, “I am special. I am unique. I am defined by God.”
And now, the moment you have all been waiting for…. THE BEAT OF THE WEEK!
We’re going to slow it down a bit this week with Bethel and sit in the truth of thissong.
Jordyn Got A Job!
Can I get a Whooohooo?! I thought I would share it with you all because Jordy, as you know, is one of the humblest people and would never publicly celebrate her own accomplishments, so I am going to do it for her. God is so good and opened all the right doors, & although it may not be her dream job, she continues to praise Him for His provision. I thought we could all sing of God’s praises together as a Body of Christ.
With that, I want to talk about something deep (because we always post surfacey stuff, right?). I want to talk about identity. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that identity has been coming up a lot in my life lately. Everything from church sermons to the books I’m reading – I think God is trying to tell me something… I have always heard we are all different, like snowflakes. Each with an individual design, not one the same as the last. Somehow that simile has lost its weight over the years. Now when I hear that I’m special I roll my eyes thinking I’m too old for this (my age is 23 but by soul is 43) as I spend most of my time trying to convince myself I’m cool, not that I’m special. It goes something like this:
Jordyn and I go out for a drink, as we are standing sipping our drinks we are telling each other we are cool enough for this. Much like the Regina’s mom on Mean Girls. “Im not like other moms, Im a cool mom.” It has become the running joke around here whenever we do something out of our comfort zone.
Just yesterday I had to convince myself I was cool enough to apply at a bar as a bus boy (or girl in my case, but the alteration just sounds so much better). While putting off applying for the job, & getting yet another unclear answer as I basically put myself on the front lines of the job hunt battle, I went to grab a cinnamon latte & read. Currently I’m reading the Chronicles of Narnia (Thanks Tim for the housewarming gift!) but I am a slow reader & decided I would take a break to let Jordyn pass me up. So, in the mean time, I’m reading The Truest Thing About You by David Lomas. And as you can guess, the book is about identity.
One particular part of the book pulled at my heart strings. He is talking about his big move to San Fransisco to start a church and says this:
It took several trips to San Francisco, all spent praying. It took many late-night conversations with God. It took me playing what-if with every possible worst-case scenario. And slowly it clicked. If I went to San Francisco and utterly failed, it wouldn’t change anything. I was beloved of God. Even if I earned a reputation. “oh yeah, Dave, he tried, he failed, now he’s back in Bakersfield, working at Trader Joe’s.” So what? That wouldn’t change a thing. (And who knows – it might still happen!) Slowly, achingly slowly, I was learning to understand that I am deeply loved by God, and because of Jesus,God is well pleased with me. Every other identity I create for myself is an illusion.
Wow. When I read those words on the page, it was like Dave was telling my story. But instead of San Fran, it was Ireland, & instead of Bakersfield, it was Golden. I have unknowingly placed my entire identity in moving here to Ireland. I have unknowingly placed my identity in what I do – Hi, I’m Megan and I am unemployed – I am letting those things define me. This identity of an adventurer, traveling the world & moving to Ireland is an illusion I have created for myself. Who would I be if I was stripped clean of all of this? There, in Costa Coffee, I was convicted.
We are all made in God’s image, different than anything else ever created. Did you catch that? Different than anything else ever created, just with that we are set apart. But there is more, we were all created for a unique, big purpose in His Kingdom. Although, even as I write this I am trying to believe I am beloved, I am convinced Jesus takes our unbelief and carries it for us. So, today, as I sit alone at my apartment scared I might fail, might forever be unemployed, might be heading back to Colorado short of the year I planned, I give those things to The Lord and ask He helps me in my unbelief.
So say it with me, “I am special. I am unique. I am defined by God.”
And now, the moment you have all been waiting for…. THE BEAT OF THE WEEK!
We’re going to slow it down a bit this week with Bethel and sit in the truth of thissong.