Identity in Christ is a term I have heard over the years, but never fully understood what it meant. I always thought that my identity was in Christ because I was a Christian. However, I was so wrong. I realize now that through my whole life I found my identity in sports, grades and other people. I allowed how well I did in sports to dictate how good I felt about myself. I allowed the grade in school determine my worth. And I allowed the opinions of others control my confidence. I always acted like these things and people did not control me, but they did. That is why after high school I felt completely lost. The summer before my first year at College of DuPage, I got an injury on my foot. I was not able to do the things I enjoyed, things that I found some of my identity in. It felt like part of me was missing. Then my friends started moving away as colleges were starting. I also started college and quickly felt completely lost. School was not as easy as it used to be for me, and i quickly dropped a couple of classes. In a couple of months everything that I found my identity in was completely gone. I could barely walk without pain, I spent my weekends by myself, and my grades were not as good as they were in high school. And during that first year of college, I was depressed. Everything I loved and expected of myself seemed to be taken away. At the time, I was mad and hated what was happening. But now, I realize that I needed that. I needed to be broken down so I could find out who I really was. I believe God purposely did this to me so I would end up where I am right now. These few days at training camp have been eye opening. I have grown closer to God in these few days than I did in the other 19 years of my life. I am hopeful that by the end of this journey I will truly find my identity in God, because God is the only one that should tell me who I am. The message we get from the world is that we are not good enough and that we need to try harder. But that is not the case, God loves us all no matter what. I encourage all of you to figure out if you truly identify with God, or if you also let other people and things control your identity. God believes everyone is beautiful inside and out, and no one should be able to make us believe differently.
