A while ago, I had a coaching client who found herself in the middle of a full-blown identity crisis. On paper, her life looked pretty great. She had a well-paying job, a supportive family, and the kind of professional status that turns heads in a room. But when she sat across from me on Zoom, her eyes filled with tears.
She whispered, “I hate my job. Every day, I feel like a piece of me is dying. I want to quit, but I just can’t.”
It wasn’t about money – she and her husband had already discussed it, and they were on the same page. The bills would be paid. The kids would be fine. The issue wasn’t her bank account. It was her identity.
“I don’t know who I am without this job title,” she said.
Maybe you’ve never said those exact words, but I wonder… have you ever felt like you were only valuable because of what you do – at work or at church?
Have you ever wondered who you’d be if the titles, the accolades, or the responsibilities were stripped away?
If so, you’re not alone. This is something many women, especially high-achieving women struggle with. They’ve spent years climbing ladders, meeting expectations, and wearing masks just to prove their worth.
But I want to lovingly remind you of this truth: You are not what you do. You are who God says you are.
The life of Abraham gives us a powerful reminder that our identity is found in being God’s, not in doing great things for God.
If Abraham had a LinkedIn profile, it would be impressive: left his homeland in obedience to God’s call, trusted God for a child in his old age, nearly sacrificed his son out of sheer faith.
But let’s be honest – Abraham had some missteps too. He lied (not once, but twice) about Sarah being his sister. He got impatient and tried to help God’s plan along by having a child with Hagar. There were moments when his faith wavered.
But, despite all of that, scripture tells us in James 2:23: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)
God didn’t define Abraham by his failures or his achievements. He saw his faith. He saw his heart. And He called him friend.
Isn’t that encouraging? The Creator of heaven and earth doesn’t look at your résumé, your social media followers, or your to-do list to determine your worth. He looks at your heart. And when He sees you in Christ, He sees righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
We live in a world that constantly tries to name us: successful, unsuccessful, too old, not enough, behind, broken, busy, burnt out.
But you and I don’t belong to this world. We belong to a kingdom where value isn’t based on performance, but on presence – God’s presence in you.
It is because of Him. Not because of your job title. Not because of your perfectly curated life. Not even because of your ministry work. Your identity, your value, your wholeness – it all comes from being in Christ.
The truth of the matter is: Your identity as a child of the Most High God is the greatest title you will ever carry.
So don’t let the enemy – or your own inner critic – put any other label on you. Not “failure,” not “has-been,” not “too late,” not “not enough.” God calls you chosen, beloved, redeemed, and His. That’s the only name that matters in eternity.
You may change careers. You may shift roles. Life may take you through different seasons. But none of that changes who you are in God’s eyes. You are His. Period.
So today, if you’ve been finding your identity in what you do, I invite you to lay it down. Just lay it all at His feet. And in its place, pick up the truth of who you really are.
The world may celebrate what you do, but heaven rejoices in who you are.
