I read the most interesting article this week - a story about a couple hundred girls who were undergoing a name-change ceremony in India. It seems, for varying reasons, these young ladies had parents who had given them a name which meant ‘Unwanted’.
It was touching and sad all at the same time. And needless to say, it sparked a great amount of conversation online. Many had comments about the nation where these young girls were growing up, about the parents and the culture.
However, I could not help but to think about the countless individuals – across the globe – who may not have been named ‘Unwanted’ but have consistently received the message that they are ‘unwanted’.
It could be a child abandoned or neglected or verbally abused by a parent. It might be a wife carelessly dismissed by her husband. Perhaps it is a husband who has been left to raise his family alone as his wife chases selfish and destructive ambitions. Maybe it is a worker who, after giving years of dedicated service, is callously laid-off from their position. It could be a teen who has never been allowed to be a part of any group.
No matter the sector of society, there are countless thousands who have been told and received the lie that they are ‘unwanted’. They have become victims of circumstance and, ultimately, of identity theft somewhere along their journey in life. Yet this is not God’s will.
Even if you were ‘unwanted’ by a person – know that you are wanted and loved by God. In my upcoming book, I talk about the need to Avoid Identity Theft in the midst of the storm. I explain how the battle for our identity often begins before we even make our entrance into the world – much like the young ladies in the article I read. I go on to point out that there will come a day when we will have to do something to regain the identity which was altered by a stormy life situation, by a parent, a spouse, a disease, a class in society or even a self-perception.
We have to decide that we will no longer be defined by the labels that have been attached to us or that we have attached to ourselves.
Then we can begin again ... much like those young ladies in the article. One of them, after living fifteen years being called 'unwanted' by friends and family, chose a name which meant ‘very tough or rock hard’ [perhaps pointing toward a spirit of resiliency]. Another selected a name which meant 'wealth' and still another selected a name which meant ‘prosperous, beautiful and good’. I say, let’s take a cue from these courageous young ladies and snatch back the identity that was stolen.
Wherever you are in your journey, whatever has waged a war against your identity, take some time today to find out what God has to say about who you are:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument] …’ Jer. 1:5AMP
This Friday we will further address the subject of identity and I will be sharing an excerpt from my upcoming book, 'When Storms Rage'. Until then, please take some time to consider these action steps which are helpful in figuring out who you are in Christ.
- Read the Word of God daily
- Ask God to reveal His view of you
- Make positive confessions daily
- Meditate on Jeremiah 1:5
- Review Psalm 139:1-18
Have a Blessed Evening!
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