But what’s the big deal? Well, with each new move came new people and as you get to know people the question always comes up: “Where are you from?” That question seemed to echo like a gong in my head each time I heard it and prepared to answer. ‘Do I go with the short version?’ I’d ask myself. That’s what I would usually do, but then, as our conversation drew out I would find myself needing to explain in detail what my background was actually like. If I went with the long version I seemed to overwhelm people who were just trying to be friendly, having a casual exchange. I remember as a small child asking my mom what should I tell them when they asked. She guided me well enough, but it never seemed to satisfy the question. I guess what I was asking was deeper than the simple question of “Where are you from?” It was more of a need for an identity, a suredness of where I came from, something more than simple geography. I think in my perpetual state of moving, all the comings and goings, packing and unpacking, closing old doors and anticipating new opportunities it was rather difficult to grasp the concept of “who I am”, let alone pinpoint that that was even the question.
Fast forward to my late 20’s/early 30’s, finally, I had been still long enough to recognize the question. I had the time and drive to seek the answer and I believe this moment in time was quite critical and significant in my life. If I hadn’t asked the question I’m certain that I’d be a very different person today. As one who had been a committed follower of Jesus for many years I understood that I was created by Him to walk with Him for a purpose that could only be found by asking Him. As I studied scripture I learned what it meant when God said: “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26. I learned that God is sovereign over every detail of life from the time I was created- Psalm 139:13-16: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be”, to the time, place and family which I was given to- Acts 17:26-28 "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.” All of this may sound a bit overthought, maybe even picked apart, but until one establishes where and who they came from how does one know where to go next? Without asking the question and seeking the answer how do you know who you are, or where you stand in this world. In America today we are pulled in so many different directions. How can you stay true to who you are if you don’t really know yourself? I was, for much of my life, like a chameleon, blending into the crowd de jour. Ever compromising, ever pleasing, hoping to feel a part of the group, really just wanting an identity. But it wasn’t until I found out who I was in Christ that I felt able to be me.
I have found that when I approach God in prayer, depending on what I am asking, He either responds with a flood of love and increased knowledge, or He is very, very quiet…like not answering at all quiet. 1 John 5:14,15 says “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I can say, from experience, that it is not God’s will when we ask Him to fix our lives and problems. God is not in the “making life easy for the sake of my happiness/comfort/enjoyment” business. But it IS His will for us to know who we are and who He created us to be. Out of that knowledge God can and will do many wonderful things to bring fruit to our lives, to bring us closer to Him and to expand His kingdom by bringing more people into a relationship with Him. And when we stop long enough to earnestly ask Him to reveal who He created us to be then He opens up a world of clarity to the person we are and what His desire for us is. If you have never stopped to ask Him do it today! Grab a pen and paper because God is about to open a floodgate of scripture, imagery and characteristics that not only point to the special, unique individual that you are, but, like He did with me, He may reveal to you who you are not, releasing you from things that unnecessarily take your time, energy and resources.
As it stands today, when that pesky, seemingly innocent question comes up I have a new peace inside. Not because I always know how to answer, but because I know that the God of this universe, creator of Heaven and Earth, also created me for a plan and a purpose. So it doesn’t matter what town I grew up in or the fact that I can’t count or even remember all of my childhood homes. What matters is that my identity is in Christ. He is my rock, my foundation, where I came from and where I’ll be.
Dear Heavenly Father- Thank You for being my firm foundation, for being my forever home base. I am truly blessed in You. ~Beth
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