Before becoming a Mom, I was very sure of who I was and what I wanted to accomplish. I was the overachieving, goal-setting type. And for the most part, when I set my mind to something, I got it done. My biggest goal in life at that point was to be successful. In my mind that meant having a good, stable career where I didn’t have to worry financially. It meant letters behind my name, status, cars, a home, and all luxuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s funny how the word “success” changes when you become a parent. In the thick of taking care of little ones, “success” turned into making it through the day without a mental breakdown and keeping the kids alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that I’m past the changing diapers, working around nap schedules, having kids by my side 24\/7 phase, I realize that in the thick of raising little children, my whole existence and identity was consumed by being a Mom and nothing else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret staying at home with the boys full-time at all<\/strong>. I actually consider it a complete blessing and I am so grateful that I was thrust into the homemaker lifestyle. But after all of those years of where my identity was “Mom” and there was no room for anything else, I realize that I lost a piece of my myself that I’m not sure if I’m able to reclaim again. My priorities have changed, I have grown and matured, and I realize that I am not the same woman I once was pre-children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if I’ve outgrown who I once was, and now there’s room for me to be someone other than just “full time Mom at home,” who am I?<\/em><\/strong> Thus enters my identity crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These past few weeks, I’ve been trying to figure out these questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Who am I? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What is my purpose?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Initially, I thought I could fill in the pieces of what I felt I lost during child rearing with more accolades. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I can make more money if I do this. I can find success if I try to do this. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But I realized quickly that I was falling back into the trap of measuring success by worldly standards. If I’m not the same person I was, why would I go back to the things that I don’t prioritize now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through prayer and Bible study, I’m quickly learning that in order for me to find peace and joy in this life, I need to stop looking at myself the way the world sees me. I need to focus on how God sees me.<\/strong> And to be able to do this, I needed to look up what God says I am through His word and completely embrace the identity that He has given me through Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I am a child of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am known.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am loved.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am forgiven.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a purpose.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am redeemed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am chosen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am saved.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is my identity. I am not “just a Mom”. I’m also not just a nurse, or just a wife, or just a military spouse. I am a daughter of the King. I am known, loved, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, saved, and have a purpose. And having this identity in Christ is giving me the freedom to let go of all of my insecurities, fears, worries, doubts, and negative thoughts. I can now focus on the gifts God has given me and be able to use them to further His kingdom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And in doing knowing this, I feel like I can finally take a deep breath and enjoy this process. Knowing my identity is in Christ. I don’t have to keep searching for this piece of myself that’s been “missing” when it’s actually been with me all along. I just needed to a little nudge from the Holy Spirit to remind me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”<\/em><\/p>2 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n *If you’d like a copy of the Bible verses that correlate with all of the biblical truths stated above, click on the link below to my Stan Store and download the free resource*<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n