“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9

We all carry stereotypes that others have placed on us, and if we’re honest, some we’ve placed on ourselves. Recently, the Lord revealed to me how much power this fear of being stereotyped has had in my life.

My identity in Christ is something I talk about often, because it’s something I struggle with deeply. I’ve met so many other Christians who wrestle with this too. It’s easy for our sense of identity to be shaken by the smallest thing, even a label.

I’m a single mother with a background riddled in trauma. I’m divorced, handicapped, and walking through a difficult financial season. Each of those words carries a weight of assumptions and judgments. I often fear that people will see the stereotype instead of seeing me.

Today during worship, I found myself asking: What am I labeled as?
The world might call me a trauma survivor.
The world might call me a single, struggling mother.
The world might call me an overweight, handicapped woman.
But is that who I am? Sometimes it feels that way…

But friends, that is not who we are.

Whatever labels the world tries to attach to you, I want to challenge you to take a few minutes today to confront them. Write them down, every stereotype, every label that’s haunted your mind, and surrender them to God. That is not your identity. Once you’ve given them to Him, tear that paper up. Throw it away!

Then, grab a new sheet of paper and write down what God says about you instead.
You are chosen.
You are a child of the living God.
You are perfectly loved by the Creator of the universe.

That is who you are.

Today, let’s lift our heads high as fellow heirs in the priesthood of Christ. Let’s walk in truth, not fear. Let’s lay down the world’s labels and pick up the name He has already written for us . “Beloved”

Prayer:
Father, thank You that my identity is found in You alone.
Help me release every label, every word, and every stereotype that has clung to me.
Remind me that I am chosen, loved, and redeemed, not by my past or by the world’s opinions, but by Your grace.
Teach me to walk in the truth of who You say I am and to see others through that same lens of love.
In Jesus’ name, amen.