Devotionals

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I am-My Father's Daughter

"Who am I?" This very question rings in my ear one night as I lay in bed wrestling with insomnia. I suddenly realize that I am confused about who I am. I do not have an immediate answer. Am I a wife? A mother? Daughter? Sister? Friend? Employee? I am, of course, every one of these; but who am I distinctively? There are often times I find myself caught between these roles and I try to figure out which one I am more so than the other. I try then to find a medium between them. How can I be every role at once? "I am only one person!" I want to scream at the world. However, the world does not care.

Society tries to tell me who I am. Oh yeah, she thinks she knows. I am to be this perfect, flawless image of a woman. Hair just right, eyelashes curled, lips moistened with the perfect application of lip-gloss. My complexion-tan and my teeth-as white as pearls! Oh, and do not forget the breasts-propped up to the peak of perfection! No. I am not this woman, although I sometimes try to be.

Self tells me that I am supposed to be what society wants. Self tells me that they are right. Therefore, I try. I try to be everything that everyone tells me to be, and in the end, I feel like a failure. Self tells me that I am a failure. I have not lived up to everyone's expectations.

Satan whispers in my ear. He tells me I am not beautiful inside. In addition, he tells me that I cannot possibly ever live up to my Lord's expectations. My self believes him, but my heart does not.

These three S's, society, self, and satan, hiss at me like a serpent. That is exactly what they are: serpents. If I take the time to listen closely, I can hear God tell me something. Truth is what he tells me and it goes like this:
You are my daughter. Oh yes, that is the truth. I not only love you, I created you. To give you love, joy, and peace is my desire! To teach you how to live your life is my duty. I, over all others, know that you are not perfect. I, over all others, accept you even though you are not. And I, will forgive you for your mistakes and help you learn from them. I loved you enough to send my one and only, beloved son to die for you, so that you may have the opportunity of knowing me and living with me forever. Do not listen to society, self, or satan, you know where they can lead you; it is there you do not want to go. So listen to me, and this I will say: I am your Father, and you are my daughter and in this role all others will fall into place.

My heart was filled to overflowing that night when I realized that I really only have one role to fill. What a relief. What a joyous relief! I finally feel asleep that night with a very heavy burden lifted off my chest. Now, every time I feel torn between roles, or dazed and confused about whom I am supposed to be, I am reminded of that night and who I truly am, and that I am my Father's Daughter.

"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God"-1 John 2:29

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