You’re Not Your Label
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 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 3:2-4
Insight
What's the worst name someone called you? It might've been a parent, a spouse, a teacher, or a friend who threw out this label. Most likely, you can remember the exact word or phrase, as well who said it, how it made you feel, and also how that label impacted you over the years. What was the label? Failure, over-achiever, addict, worthless, ordinary, fat, weird, screw-up? Stop for a moment and reflect on the labels you cling to and let define you.
Sometimes we label ourselves based off not what people say, but by their actions or lack thereof. I know I did. UNLOVABLE. This is a label I carried for years. It's the label I'll quickly pick back up if I'm not careful. You see my dad wasn't in the picture. He never made time for me. And, because of that, I felt I wasn't lovable and worthy of a person's time.
And how did I respond to this label? QUIET - I didn't feel I was worth getting to know. WITHDRAWN - I didn't want to put myself out there for fear of getting hurt again. PERFECTIONIST - I thought I had to prove my worth by succeeding. CYNICAL - I hesitated to trust people's intentions.
I don't think I'm odd when it comes to the way I internalized my label. You see there is always a story behind the label. Something that drives our behavior and our actions. But, when we quickly write off people and place them in boxes, we lose sight of their story, and they continue carrying this label with them.
The longer we accept the labels people place on us, or those we put on ourselves, it becomes easier to buy into the lie that these labels define us. Sometimes when we believe what everyone says about us, we will live it out. Labels drive the way we respond or interact with others. Labels influence the way we perceive the world and our part in it. The shame that some of these labels hold have held some of us captive for years. We’ve reluctantly embraced them and lost hope. They’ve become our built in excuse for our behavior and shortcomings.
These titles try to tell us who we are and what we should do. Labels prove to be an ideal hiding place. They allow us to retreat into the safety of "that's just who I am." They can stick with us forever and can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies. They are deceptive and self-limiting by preventing us from moving forward. We go about our daily business, bruised, dented and beat up. We feel less than...about as valuable as one of those dented cans on the clearance rack.
But, as believers, we have a message of hope. We have a different perspective to offer. We don't want others just to let go of their labels. We want them to embrace a new identity. God’s love possesses the power to conquer any label. He can and will break the labels that have held all of us hostage. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come."
Reflection
What labels do you cling to and use to define yourself? How have these labels impacted you and your relationships over the years? How do you think God feels about you labeling yourself in this way?
Prayer
God, as hard as it is for me to say, I've been holding on to specific labels for a long time. During the years, I've let them define me and shape my identity. When I look in the mirror, they are all I see. Today, when I glance in the mirror may, I see myself as a new creation because that is what I am. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
