Duck & Cover
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors." Luke 1:46-55
Insight
Many of us, perhaps most...okay, probably all of us, struggle with identity. This is because so many forces impose on us, trying to shape and mold who we are or, at the least, who we present to the world. Our coping mechanisms can be somewhat creative, but I'll break it down into two broad categories for argument's sake. I call it "duck & cover" and "rebel without a cause."
On the one hand, we work tirelessly to hide the cobwebby, dark corners of our lives where our most embarrassing, shameful memories live. Simultaneously and unrealistically, we compare ourselves to the image we see in others. We wonder, "What do they see in me?" and "What will they think of me?" We find ourselves in predicaments that defy explanation; we can't recall how we got from A to B because we react from fear or insecurity rather than act from our values and goals.
Or, on the flip side, taking the predisposition to be contrary, we rebel against someone else's ideas of what's helpful, successful, or even acceptable. We may reject experienced counsel to do our own thing. We want to be our own person, forge our identity our way. Our need for independence and control supersedes all else.
Typically, we can see these detrimental trends in others far more keenly than ourselves. An old boss I remember would have rather failed on his terms than succeeded on anyone else's. I watched his company slowly dissolve from the safety of a new job.
At any rate, between hiding and rebelling, we lose the opportunity for the genuine and life-changing authenticity God invites us to experience. We must peer into those dark corners, shed the facades, and give up control to move forward in faith. Yes, being vulnerable is scary, but it is also a gift. When we put God in the driver's seat and let him hold the flashlight, and when we look at ourselves through the lens of His love, His forgiveness, His Mercy and His Grace, and when we allow His Truth to be our identity, we can let go of the fear, the insecurity, the control, because we know who we are. We are His.
I think of Mary, young, fearful, and perhaps a bit overwhelmed at her circumstances. The line I come back to over and over is this, "From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name." She does not live on the surface of "what was," unmarried, with child, but in the fulfilled promise of a merciful God who knows her heart, remembers His promises, and remains constant throughout the generations.
American author and speaker Brennan Manning said, "Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion." It saddens me to realize that thinking they're unconditionally loved is radical for many. Yet, we don't want ever to take this gift for granted. Let us accept this truth readily and cherish it for its miracle. Jesus is a beautiful reminder of a faithful and loving God. A God who would stop at nothing, give everything to bring his children home. In the book of Luke, Mary's song reminds us of the proper lens with which to look at ourselves and others, modeling the proper posture of a rejoicing spirit.
Reflection
As we close this year, a year of unprecedented challenge, think about how God has shown His deep and abiding love for you.
What pieces of an old self-image have you been able to put aside to embrace your new identity in Christ?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us time and again, in your Word, through Your promises, that we belong to You. That our identity has been crafted by Your loving hands and sealed with the blood of our savior Jesus Christ. Help us see our lives as Mary did, as a soul glorifying the Lord, as a spirit rejoicing, as a blessed recipient of Your Mercy and Grace. Help us understand that it is in humility that we are lifted. We need not hide, compare, nor orchestrate our destiny. All we need to do is trust, knowing that as the generations before us, Father, You will be there for us. Today, tomorrow, and always. In Jesus' Name...Amen.
Port City writer Paula Argenio wrote today's devotional.