Sunday Inspiration - Identity Crisis

I've been thinking recently about how we define our identities. What's the first thing you ask when you meet someone new? For me, it's usually, "What are you doing with your life?" And maybe that's a shallow question to ask, and it certainly is a shallow thing upon which to base one's identity. But I realized that the hardest thing about "pre-employment" is that I no longer have a good answer to that question. I could say, "Sleeping in," "Going to the pool," or "Baking everything I see on this blog," and I should say, "Looking for a job," but that is not nearly as satisfying to my ego than, "Finishing up my masters," or what I would like to say, "Starting this awesome job at _____." And yes, I get that the only wounded party here is my ego, and it could probably use the bruises, so this is most likely very good for me. It's just that, other than broccoli and peas, I usually dislike things that are good for me :)


I've realized, though, that I am happiest when my identity is based not on what I do but on who I am. In last April's General Conference, Elder Lynn G. Robbins said, "Identity confusion can also occur when we ask children what they want to be when they grow up, as if what a person does for a living is who he or she is. Neither professions nor possessions should define identity or self-worth. The Savior, for example, was a humble carpenter, but that hardly defined His life."

What a tragedy it would be to think of Jesus Christ as a carpenter, and not the Savior. And I know for a fact that when He looks at me He doesn't see an unemployed, frustrated job-seeker with nothing to show for her two degrees. He sees a daughter of God, a sister, a friend, a temple-goer, a baker of cookies for someone who had a bad day. And yes, a girl whose faith, hope, trust and patience can use some refining, and He's happy to oblige. But the lack of a job in no way lessens my worth, and when I do find one, it won't increase my worth in His eyes. My value was decided before birth, and fixed as Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and on Calvary, and nothing I do or have - or don't - will alter that.