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Be who God Made You to Be

12th April 2023

Just for this week, instead of the usual Bible study, I thought I'd show you this story written by a friend of mine.

I was brought up in a Christian home but for nearly twenty years since I didn't walk with the Lord.

Three years ago I gave my life to God and it has been transformed. In no way am I saying all my problems have gone away and life has been easier. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it feels as though it has been harder. But the difference is that God has been with me through it all.

In 2021, I left a relatively senior role in retail because I believed God was calling me to do something different with my life. I'm now training to be a counsellor. This has required me to have my own therapy.

I've battled with my mental health periodically throughout my life, and I've allowed this - and many other things - to become my identity. But God has been showing me who He is, so that I can understand more of who He made me to be.

For so long I've strived to be what I thought others expected me to be, chasing things that I thought would make me happy. Some of them did, but only for a fleeting moment. I'd always perceived God and Christianity as restricting, with rules and regulations. But the reality is that when you come into a relationship with God, there is true freedom.

God has made me more aware of the lies and negative self-talk I have been speaking over myself for nearly forty years and as a consequence I have come to believe them, struggling with my self-esteem and self-worth. These lies contradict who He says I am and have chained me to this false identity for most of my life.

Just recently I went for an interview for a college placement. I came away cringing and thinking "Well I've completely blown that. I was too much myself, too authentically me". I'm so used to interviewing for roles in which I would masquerade as someone else. This week I found out I got the position. And God spoke to me so profoundly and yet so gently "Susannah, stop trying to be someone else. You are accepted and valued, be who I made you to be."

The acceptance and love of God will never cease to overwhelm and astound me. That love and acceptance is available for each one of us, it is our choice whether to accept it.

I'll be honest and say that my unhelpful thoughts and behaviours haven’t just disappeared overnight, although I know all things are possible through Him. His work continues in me. Accepting His gift of salvation for myself has opened my eyes. He gently and lovingly continues to reveal the thoughts and behaviours which have been so much a part of me and yet no good for me, and replaces them with the truth - His truth:

God loves and values me so much that He sent his son Jesus, who was without sin, to bear my sin so that I can live in fellowship with Him. The Creator of the universe longs to be in a relationship with me and with you! What amazing love!