Beyond the Mirror: Finding Your Identity in Christ

Finding your identity can lead you in many directions. Helia Wagmacker shares how finding your identity in Christ leads to peace, joy, and freedom.

Have you ever stood in front of a funhouse or distortion mirror?

Many years ago, my family and I visited an exhibition here in Houston, and I was fascinated to see myself in those mirrors.

Some made me look very tall, others very skinny, and others very short.

Sometimes we see ourselves through a blurred mirror. That reflection can create an illusion that separates us from the purpose we were created for.

When that happens, we lose sight of who we are meant to be.

We exist to display God’s glory through the identity He intended for us to live.

The Mirror Shows Your Reflection, Not Your Identity

While our contemporary world interprets finding your identity as “self-construction,” the Bible presents it as something we receive from God.

Genesis 1:27 NIV describes our fundamental human identity: “So God created mankind in his own image.”

We were created in His likeness to express His glory, and this should be the basis of our identity.

We did not come from nowhere; God purposely created us.

We are living in an interesting moment in history, having departed from the original way of living by pushing fake identities as a means of happiness.

We are flooded with pretend identities, sometimes confusing what is real and what is imitation. Social media opened the door to a world of illusion.

This distortion didn’t start with social media, though — it started with sin.

Finding Your Identity in Christ

Sin broke that perfect image of God and the identity we received at creation.

Romans 3:23 (NIV) says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Living an identity that does not belong to us will bring confusion to our souls and lead to a life under spiritual darkness.

First, the perfect identity we try to imitate from a perfect person on Instagram does not exist.

Second, only Jesus has the power to bring us back to our original identity.

From the world’s perspective, a person’s identity may be mistaken for what they do or have accomplished in life.

You may be an artist, a Bible teacher, a designer, etc. — these are your roles and gifts.

But the identity we receive in Christ is more than our uniqueness;(opens in new tab) it is about whose we are.

Finding Your Identity Through the Eyes of Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

We receive this restored identity when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Our new identity comes not from a selection of unique characteristics, personality, and gifts, but from the forgiveness of our sins.

By God’s grace, He makes everything new. We become His sons and daughters, and through His adoption, we can live out His original plan for our lives — to be His image.

What sin broke begins to be restored to its original form, and we are progressively transformed into His image.

Colossians 3:10 NIV says, “Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Many of our crises, pain, and lack of clarity come from our wrong idea of who we are. Our flesh will fail us; our choices will compromise us.

The world will allure us with a fake, shining identity that does not exist. Satan will lie to us, saying that another identity will suit us better.

After years of believing these lies, I can guarantee you that the wholeness we dream of depends on the identity God created us to be.

The most beautiful you is the one Christ regenerates. Your strength lies in humble dependence on His work.

You may not be sure yet that what God designed for you is the best life you can live.

Romans 12:2 NIV says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We know a perfect life doesn’t exist, but living out God’s will means living with an identity that feels alive, satisfied, and joyful in Him.

Your Reflection Changes But Your Identity in Christ Does Not

How then can we receive our real identity and learn who we really are?

Everything for finding your identity starts by admitting our sins, repenting, and turning to Christ.

From there, we can begin to live the identity God created for us.

The funhouse mirrors distort, and so does sin, but there is a mirror that shows us the truth.

This mirror reflects the perfect image, identity, and model God designed for us. This mirror is Jesus.

As the One who died for us, rose on the third day, and is now on His throne interceding for us, He is the perfect example of the life we are meant to live.

We live in such busy times that we may be too occupied doing the right things to have time to look into this mirror called Jesus.

Or we may be afraid to look into it and see the broken side of us we don’t want to see.

Many times, I look in this mirror and see a part of me I don’t like, or I try to avoid it.

But I have learned that looking at Him shows me not only what is broken in me, but it also shows the person I am becoming in Him.

This mirror is not a place of condemnation — it’s a place of love, repentance, reconciliation, and growth.

Perhaps, when you look at this mirror, the reflection you see is blurry or almost invisible.

But if you keep coming to it every day — reading and reflecting on His words, praying, and letting the Holy Spirit work on you — your mind will start to change.

Your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs will continue to change, and your identity will reflect Christ.

“But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

Finding your identity: Please keep coming to the mirror. Keep coming to Jesus. In Him you receive clarity about who you are and who He is.

Your life may become more like him; then you will experience the joy of carrying his likeness and the image of the God who delights in you.

That is where we find our real identity.

Finding Your Identity on YouTube

Would you like to ‘meet’ Helia and learn more about finding your identity?

To listen to a quick conversation on finding your identity in Christ and discovering the joy of the Lord, Click Here to join our short discussion.

Author

Helia Wagmacker

Helia Wagmacker is the founder of More of God Ministry and a Bible teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Based in Houston, Texas, she is also a speaker, podcaster, and writer who helps people deepen their trust in God and grow closer to Jesus. Connect with Helia here.(opens in new tab)