“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1 NLT
“Who are you?”
If someone asked you that question, would you know how to answer?
You might say, “My name is so-and-so.” Or maybe, “I’m Bobby and Cindy’s mom.”
You might respond with, “I’m a teacher” or “I work at a doctor’s office.”
If you’re married, you might say, “I’m married to Joe.”
But none of those things define you. Until you know who you really are — not what you do or whom you’re related to — you will struggle to know your place in the world.
Before there was a husband or kids or a job, even before you drew your first breath, you were a child of the Most High God. And you’re still His kid, even now. Once you realize Whose you are, you can know who you are.
When you come to fully understand what that means, when you have rooted and grounded your identity in Him, then your response to the “Who are you?” question will be made easier. You are a daughter of the King, fully loved and cared for. A plan has been in place for your life before you were ever even born — you are entirely unique, entirely special, entirely adored.
Knowing who you are will help you stick to your guns when you need to. But most of all, you’ll have the assurance that the same God who created daffodils, cumulus clouds, crystal-blue Caribbean seas, and teensy-tiny tadpoles, created you as well. And He adores you with a love that goes beyond anything you could imagine.
This loving, gracious Creator has big things planned for you. The reason you can be assured of the fact that you have brighter days ahead is because He’s the one illuminating them. And no one does a finer job of lighting your path than He does!
AFFIRMATION: Today, I choose to recognize Whose I am so that I can fully understand who I am.
GOD SAYS: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 ESV
TRUTH FOR TODAY: I am not defined by my talents, abilities, or physical appearance, but by how deep my roots go down in Him.
REFLECTION: If someone were to ask, “Who are you . . . really?” I would respond . . .
Discover the beauty of hope in the midst of hard times. That’s the message of Hope in the Hard, a journal full of relatable devotions, inspirational quotes, selected Scriptures, and prompts for reflection designed to help you process your emotions and gain a hopeful outlook during challenging seasons. Easy-to-digest stories and encouraging reflections — like the one above! — will remind you that there is purpose in your difficulties and that you are not alone as you trek through the unbearably familiar or the unnerving unknown.
This journal is SO unique and would make the perfect gift for a dear friend who needs a dose of hope, or for yourself if you’re walking a new path.
Pick up your copy of Hope in the Hard here, and leave a comment answering the reflection question above. We’ll mail five commenters* a copy of this new devotional journal.
Who I am is based on my heavenly Father’s sacrifice when He gave up His life for me. He loved me so much! He sees me and calls me His daughter. As I abide and grow in Him, becoming more like Him, I increasingly bear the fruits of the Spirit. That is where my hope lies…in my Jesus
It’s taken a while to figure this out, but I feel I am finally at that point. I have taken on the task of presenting the children message at Sunday worship. It feels so right. It feels like at my old age, I have finally listened to God and obeyed! The Holy Spirit has given me the words and it has been amazing to feel comfortable talking about Jesus not just to the children but to the adults in the congregation as well. I am a child of God, fully loved.
Thank you for this reminder this morning. It is so easy to become wrapped up in our circumstances that they become our identity.
This took me a long time to let go of, my identity… believing it was in being a preschool teacher, a mom etc… and now when I mess up and have nothing left, I am a BELOVED Daughter of THE KING! ✝️ and His Name is Jesus ❤️
I am a believer who always needs God’s grace and forgiveness.
Read a devotional this morning email daily that said the writer usually answers mom sister etc etc but should in her heart say a child of god but doesn’t out of many hesitations. Gosh I love that. Amazing. I am pondering that for the reflection question today because I am. The root.
I literally read I Peter 2:9-10 this morning and made myself rephrase it to make it personal. I have really been struggling with depression and anxiety and feeling like a failure, so I told myself, “You are chosen, you are royal, you are God’s own possession, one of the people of God, who has received mercy.” Then I read this devotional from (in)courage… God is sending me a love note in my discouragement and telling me to pay attention and take heart! ❤️
Thank you for the reminder that we are not what we do! That our identity is rooted in whose we are: Beloved daughter of the King!
We are all going to go thru Hard at some point in our lives & to differing degrees.
Being rooted in remembering God’s Faithfulness of the past is also super helpful.
Look forward to checking out the devotional!
I would love to give a copy of this book to my daughter Sarah.
I’m trying but this concept is so hard for me. How can He love me when I am so disappointed in myself? Sigh
This touched my heart this morning….the words are exactly what I needed after several very difficult days with and for my son. I know I have hope in the Lord….just needed a little nudge reminder. Thanks. My address is 5810 Rosewood St. Tucson,Az. 85711
I am His. It’s that simple.
I am the beloved child of my Abba Father! Father, please guide me through this life step-by-step, moment by moment, breathe by breathe. Amen.
I am a daughter of the Most High God. He knows me to the point of how many hairs are on my head. Thank you for this reminder and this opportunity. Sharon A
I am an imperfect, often struggling child of God who wants to have more joy in the Lord.
(thank you for the reminder of who I truly am in this time of transition and troubles. I think this journal will be helpful for me and so many others.)
This is exactly what I need for this season in my life. What a blessing.
I am a sinner, but at the same time I am a saint because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus lives so I too will live forever with him.
Thanks for the reminder that my vocations do not make me who I really am. It’s whose I am that matters eternally.
I am the child of an ever-loving God who neither leaves me nor forsakes me, especially in the times when I am weak and struggling.
God bless you for this devotional.
Definitely a question I ask now and again. To the world, I am a single, full-time working woman. To my Savior, I am chosen, accepted, delighted in and smiled upon. Unfortunately, I fail to remember that every day, which is directly impacting my ability to hold onto hope.
This article is filled with great reminders. So thankful for these reminders for my heart today.
I think to answer the reflection question given above, I would have to say I’m a young adult female who has cerebral palsy.
Something I really need to work on is not fully wrapping my identity in my disability. It can be hard though because it is a major part of who I am and it does impact my daily life. However, I really have to remind myself that CP is not all that I am. It is only a part of who I am.
Thank you.
As a new retiree change gives me an opportunity to reflect on how I define myself
I want to see myself as a beloved child of God. But as I searched my heart for an honest answer to the question, Who am I?, I respond with, “I am a failure.”
I am the daughter of the King, who is with me all the time through good times and bad times. I am grieving the loss of my beautiful daughter of 27 years and i know God will help me through this time of my life. Thank you for this devotional it is what i needed today.
I am tired. I am broken. And i am lost in the wilderness. Im very short on hope and joy these days. But God never promised easy but still feel forgotten when going through it. Could use a lil of His illumination
What a beautiful devotional and such an important way of bringing hope. Journaling is such a wonderful outlet.