Who am I? Part 1
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Who am I?
That's one of humanity's greatest questions.
Why does that question matter?
If we don't know who we are, we will never understand our true value.
Why is it vital for us to know our true value?
Each of us was born for something greater! We're called to step out of our comfort zone into a bigger, brighter future.
But, if we don't understand our actual value, we will sell ourselves short.
If we don't know our true value, how can we ever be bold in fulfilling our purpose? How can we make a difference?
We'll shrink back when we need to reach forward. We'll compare when we need to celebrate. We'll strive when we need to rest.
That was me. I wasted countless years too afraid to step out of my comfort zone.
So what is our true value?
When trying to find big answers, I like to start at the beginning.
Eve. The first woman to be created.
Expertly formed and designed with a purpose. Eve was the Creator's priceless masterpiece.
God said in Genesis 2:18, "It's not good for man to be alone. Let me make a helpmate for man."
Viola! Eve's purpose. God created Eve to help man.
Now hear me out. I'm not saying Eve, and all women were made to be subservient to men and do his bidding. God didn't create the woman secondary to the man. She wasn't made just to be the "help."
Let's go back to what God said.
Genesis 2:18 NKJV
"Let me make a helpmate for man."
Helpmate here is not a word that we currently use. Because of that, we lost the real meaning. To understand what God meant by helpmate, we need to go back to its original language–Hebrew.
Suitable Helpmate (ezer kengedo) = Corresponding One, helper opposite to.
Adam Clarke's commentary states that Ezer Kengedo "Implies that the woman was to be a perfect resemblance of the man, possessing neither inferiority nor superiority, but being in all things like and equal to himself."
Robert Alto says this about 'exercise kengedo': It means something far more powerful than 'helper;' it means 'lifesaver.' The phrase is only used elsewhere of God when you need him to come through for you desperately. (i.e., Deut. 33:26)"
Wow! God created Eve to be a lifesaver and designed as Adam's ally.
God created Eve (and all of us women) with unique God-given traits that Adam–and all people–need.
If Adam–Man–were enough on his own, God wouldn't have needed to make Eve–women.
Earlier, God said, "Let's make man in our own image. Male and Female, He created them." Genesis 1:26 NKJV
We have a unique value just by being a woman.
God couldn't fit all of Himself in man, so He also created woman. As a woman, there are aspects of our nature that are straight from God. We're made in His image.
Why do we need to know this? Because we need to understand why we exist – our identity – to help us grasp our true value.
Gad created Eve to do what Adam couldn't. She was made to express a facet of God's nature that Adam wasn't designed to express.
One facet is being relational.
It's one reason why many women can cry at those Hallmark commercials, but some men think we're crazy.
But, who is it that surrounds you with love and care when you're sick? Who is it that the kids typically run to when they get a booboo or cry out in the middle of the night?
In general, who do you go to when you want quality conversations?
Who do you go to when you need someone to cheer you on when you're doing great and cry with you when you're not?
Our relational strength shows up in all aspects of our lives, including business.
Inc magazine cited that women-owned businesses are 1.7 times more productive than male-owned businesses. That's almost twice as productive!
Why is that? Two of the reasons they observed are:
Women are much better at leading their teams–they take the time to see their employees as whole people, not just "worker bees."
Women are better at building deeper relationships with customers, suppliers, and vendors than men.
These are qualities we received from our Heavenly Father to lift others. Father designed us to be lifesavers!
Here's where Eve ran into trouble.
Genesis 3:1 NASB
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
The crafty serpent comes to Eve with a question. (Now, why she didn't freak out when a snake started talking to her is a discussion for another day.)
First, the serpent puts doubt into Eve's mind by saying,
Genesis 3:2b NKJV
"Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Eve answers that they were told they can't eat it or even touch it, or they will die. (Side note, God didn't say, "don't touch it." Eve embellished on that herself.)
What does the serpent do next? He breeds more doubt by preying on Eve's identity.
Genesis 3:4b-5 NKJV
"You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Notice his line, "you will be like God."
The serpent made her feel as if she wasn't enough. She needed to be "like God" to feel valuable.
Let's go back to Genesis 1:26 (NKJV), "Let's make man in our own image. Male and Female, He created them."
Eve was ALREADY made in God's image!
Eve didn't need the fruit to become more or fulfill her purpose. She was perfect as she was. She was enough.
Eve didn't realize her true value, so she sold herself short. She sold herself out to become something she already was–but didn't know it.
How about you?
When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see someone that is beautiful and made in God's image? Or, do you see someone that needs to lose some weight, a complexion that's blotchy or wrinkled, and hair that never seems to cooperate?
Do you see someone destined for greatness? Do you see someone who is valuable? Or, do you see a failure whose past is too sketchy to be used by a perfect God?
Exercise To Do At Home:
Take 30 seconds and stare at yourself in the mirror. Who do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror (good or bad)? Please write it down.
When someone compliments you for killing it on that new project, what do you say? Do you believe them and say, "thank you"? Or, do you deflect the compliment and think to yourself, "they're just saying that to be nice"?
How do you receive a compliment typically? Do you receive it or deflect it? Write it down how you respond:
How about when you read God's Word, and you see, "You're fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalms 139:14)? How does it make you feel? Write it down:
Self-image is the idea, conception, or mental image one has of oneself. It's how we see ourselves–our identity.
But, do we always see ourselves as God sees us? Is what we think about ourselves THE TRUTH?
Understanding our true identity is a vital facet of understanding our true value.
If we're going to fulfill our purpose, we must first understand our identity and TRUE value.
Next time, we're going to discover another aspect of our identity.
Until next time, Live Fearlessly Free.
Discussion
What jumped out to you in today's post? Please share with us below.
Resources
Books:
Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely book by Lysa TerKeurst
Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely, Study Guide by Lysa TerKeurst Study Guide
(This is a powerful book on identity. Lisa shares heartfelt stories of rejection and how she learned to embrace who God's created her to be. The study guide will also guide you through a journey of questions you may not think to ask yourself.)