Uncovering Your God-Given Identity

The Path to Boldness

This is the third in a series. You can find Part 1 and Part 2 here.

What's bothering you right now? Seriously, what is it that keeps you up at night, gnawing away at your peace? Maybe it's a struggle in your relationships, your finances, your job, your health, or your faith. We all face fears and anxieties, those pesky thoughts that creep in and threaten to overwhelm us. But what if I told you that God has a different plan? What if, in the midst of your fears, God is inviting you into a life of unshakeable courage and purpose?

Facing the Mountain of Fear

In the book of Hebrews, we read about two mountains: the mountain of fear and the mountain of joy. The mountain of fear is where we find ourselves when we're consumed by our own anxieties and doubts. It's a place of self-protection and self-promotion, where we try desperately to manage our lives on our own terms.

I know this mountain all too well. For me, it often manifests as a physical tension in my back, a tightness that screams, "You're not enough. You're going to fail. God is disappointed in you." Can you relate? Maybe for you, it's a heaviness in your chest or a sinking feeling in your stomach. These are the telltale signs that we're operating out of fear rather than faith.

I think of my own experiences with fear and inadequacy. Growing up, I often played softball with friends. About twenty years later, I joined a church league as an adult when they were desperate for another player. I found myself thrust into an environment where I felt really inadequate, standing at the plate with the weight of my fears and expectations bearing down on me. I was no slugger, no home-run hitter. More often than not, I'd just dribble the ball to the pitcher and get thrown out at first. Each time I struck out or let my team down, I felt like a failure.

That feeling of fear and inadequacy at the softball plate has never fully left me. Even now, decades later, I can still feel the tightness in my chest and the knot in my stomach when I imagine myself stepping up to bat. It's a stark contrast to the freedom and joy I often experience when I'm preaching or teaching.

You see, early on in my ministry, I was a nervous wreck whenever I had to speak in front of people. My delivery was wooden and monotonous, and I constantly worried about boring my audience to tears. But over time, as I pressed into God's presence and asked for His help, something began to shift. I started to sense His Spirit with me in a tangible way, guiding my words and giving me a supernatural boldness. These days, the pulpit often feels like a protected space, a place where I'm enveloped by God's love and empowered by His grace.

Now, I'm not saying I've arrived or that I never deal with fears and doubts. Far from it. But I've learned that when I lean into God's presence and trust in His strength, I find a courage and peace that transcend my natural abilities. It's not about me or my performance; it's about Him working through me to reach His people.

But here's the good news: God doesn't want us to stay on the mountain of fear. In fact, throughout Scripture, we see Him calling people off that mountain and into a life of bold obedience. Think of Noah building the ark, Abraham leaving his homeland, Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and Joshua conquering the Promised Land. In each case, God's message was the same: "Fear not, for I will be with you."

The question is, do we have the faith to believe that promise? Do we trust that God's presence and power are sufficient to carry us through any trial or challenge? Or have we settled for a watered-down version of Christianity, one where God is distant and uninvolved in our daily lives?

Embracing Your Divine Identity

The key to moving from fear to courage is to embrace your true identity in Christ. When God calls us, He's not just giving us a task to complete. He's inviting us into a whole new way of being, a divine identity that is secure and unshakeable.

Think of Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples. When many of Jesus' followers were deserting Him, Jesus turned to Peter and asked, "Do you want to leave too?" Peter's response was profound: "Where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). In that moment, Peter was anchoring his identity not in his own abilities or circumstances, but in the unwavering truth of who Jesus is.

That's the kind of faith God wants to cultivate in us—a faith that clings to Him no matter what. But it doesn't happen automatically. We have to be intentional about laying down our fears and asking God to reveal our true identity in Him.

Listening for God's Voice

So what does it look like to lay down our fears and embrace our God-given identity? It starts with getting quiet before the Lord and asking Him to speak. Now, I know that can feel intimidating. We might worry that we're just making things up or that God doesn't really speak to people anymore. But Scripture is clear that God's Spirit lives within us and wants to communicate with us.

In my own life, I've seen the power of this practice firsthand. I remember a time when I was really struggling with some fears and doubts. I felt like I was in over my head and that God had abandoned me. But as I got quiet before Him and asked Him to speak, I sensed His voice whispering to my heart: "You are mine. I have called you by name. Do not be afraid, for I am with you."

Those words were like balm to my soul. They didn't erase all my fears, but they reminded me of who I am and whose I am. They gave me the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when the path ahead looked daunting.

Of course, discerning God's voice takes practice and patience. It's not always as clear-cut as we might like. But the more we lean into His presence and ask for His guidance, the more attuned we become to His leading. And as we step out in obedience to what we hear, we find that His words bring life and peace in a way that nothing else can.

Living Out Your Calling

Once we've embraced our identity in Christ and started listening for His voice, the next step is to live out the unique calling He's placed on our lives. This is where boldness really starts to take shape, as we step into the fullness of who God made us to be.

I love the story of the man who, after going through a process of prayer and listening, heard God call him away from a more conventional career to be a world-class statistician. At first, it made no sense. He enjoyed his current and was a bit surprised that this is what God would give him. But as he leaned into that calling and took steps of obedience—quitting his job, getting a PhD, writing a groundbreaking paper—he saw God open doors he never could have imagined. His work ended up leading an atheist to faith and sparking a whole new place of influence.

That's the kind of adventure God wants to take us on—a journey of discovering and deploying the unique gifts and passions He's placed within us. It won't always make sense to the world around us. It might require sacrifice and risk. But when we trust God's leading and step out in faith, we find a joy and purpose that's truly unshakeable.

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

Of course, living boldly doesn't mean we'll never face fears or setbacks. In fact, the closer we get to walking in our God-given calling, the more resistance we're likely to encounter. The enemy doesn't want us living in the fullness of who God made us to be, and he'll do whatever he can to derail us with doubt and discouragement.

This is where we’ll need to make some hard decisions. Will we shrink back in the face of opposition, or will we press in to God's presence and trust Him to equip us for the battle? Will we settle for a life of safe mediocrity, or will we take hold of the abundant life Jesus promised us?

I'll be honest - there are times when I'm tempted to choose the former. When the fears and doubts start to creep in, when I feel like I'm in over my head, it's easy to want to throw in the towel and retreat to my comfort zone. But then I remember the times when I've sensed God's presence so powerfully, when I've stepped out in faith and seen Him come through in ways I never could have imagined. And I'm reminded that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, that His power is more than enough to overcome any obstacle.

The same is true for you, no matter what your calling may be. Whether you're a student or a nurse or a stay-at-home parent or an entrepreneur, you will face challenges and setbacks along the way. You might feel like you're not cut out for the task, like you're going to fail spectacularly. But when we understand His call and His presence, His strength is more than sufficient for whatever lies ahead.

Partnering with God's Power

Ultimately, living with boldness is about partnering with the power of God at work within us. It's not about mustering up our own courage or willpower. It's about surrendering to His Spirit and letting Him lead us into the life He's designed for us.

One of my favorite passages in Scripture is Ephesians 3:20-21, which says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." God's power is already at work within us as believers. We don't have to strive or strain to make things happen on our own. We simply have to yield to His leading and trust that He will equip us for whatever He calls us to.

That doesn't mean it will be easy. Living boldly often requires sacrifice and discomfort. It might mean laying down our own plans and preferences for the sake of God's Kingdom. It might mean facing rejection or persecution for standing up for what's right. But when we're anchored in our identity as beloved children of God, we find a courage that can weather any storm.

Trusting in God's Unshakeable Love

At the end of the day, living with boldness comes down to trusting in the unshakeable love of God. No matter what fears or doubts may assail us, we can rest in the assurance that nothing can separate us from His love. As Romans 8:38-39 puts it, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

That love is the foundation for everything else. It's what gives us the courage to face our fears, embrace our identity, listen for God's voice, and step out in obedience to His calling. It's what sustains us when the journey gets hard and the enemy starts whispering lies. And it's what fills us with unshakeable joy and purpose, no matter what life may throw our way.

So whatever fears may be weighing you down today, know this: God is with you, and He is for you. He has called you by name and equipped you with everything you need to live a life of bold faith. Don't settle for the smallness of your own strength and understanding. Lean into the bigness of God's love and power, and watch Him do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine.

The journey won't always be easy, but it will always be worth it. There's no greater adventure than walking hand in hand with the God who made you, loves you, and has a glorious future in store for you. So take heart, dear friend. Your identity is secure. Your calling is sure. And your God is with you every step of the way. Now go out there and live with a holy boldness that brings heaven to earth and shakes the powers of darkness. The world is waiting for the light that only you can shine.