A major facet of the modern teen culture is the idea of finding your personal identity. According to Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, between the ages of 12 to 18, adolescents reach stage number five. The stage of Identity versus Role Confusion. It is expected that, during this time in their lives, teenagers will exert independence and seek to develop a strong sense of self. Additionally, Erikson greatly encouraged the experimentation with different roles, behaviors, and activities in order to provide a firm identity and a sense of direction in life.
This should not be accepted as truth, and yet this philosophy is what is being fed into the minds and hearts of young adults today.
As Christians, we are not called to “be ourselves.” We are called to become more like Christ. We are not called to develop our own identities. Our only identity should be found through our Savior.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ”
-Luke 9:23-24
Another common theme amongst young people (especially girls) today is the command to “chase our dreams” and to be “true to our hearts.” But, in the light of Scripture, are we really supposed to follow our hearts?
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? -Jeremiah 17:9
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. -Jeremiah 17:5
If my heart is desperately wicked and perverse, why should I put my trust in my own flesh? Why should I seek after my own feelings if they are perverse and will only lead me astray? Christ is my Rock. He is the only thing in this world that I can put my full and complete trust in. As for me, I will chose to strive to be like Him. I want to lose myself. I want to lose my life. I want to find myself in Him.
Laura Story, in her song One Life to Lose, writes,
“I’m torn again between my pride, my old friend
And who you’ve called me to be
I’ve sworn again to lay it down, to bring an end
To this life lived for meFor I’ve one life to lose, one chance to find
A newer, better me, the old one left behind
For there’s one Lord who leads though steep the cost
I have learned when I am lost, it’s there that I am foundI am found as your daughter, as your child
As one purchased by Your blood
And though there’s nothing I can add to such a perfect sacrifice
How can I offer you less than all my life?”
I echo her words, “Father God, how can I offer you anything less than all of my life?”
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
-Colossians 3:3-4
By: Cassandra
Great thoughts here. I would add here that often many of the dreams we have, ever since we were children, do come from God. Oh I am not talking about selfish dreams, but those big dreams where we want to make a difference. Sometimes, even when you are 30, you are still trying to figure out what those dreams are, or how God is leading you to them. And maybe that is what makes the difference, are those dreams given to you by God, or are those dreams purely a reflection of a heart that desires only to please the world and our own selfish desires. Again, great thoughts here, thanks for making m think this morning!
I love love love this! I have recently been thinking along these lines in regards to self-esteem. Why are so many parenting books talking about building a child’s self confidence and esteem? If we train them that their confidence and esteem should lie solely in our Lord Jesus than we never have to worry about the consequences of low self-esteem.