Women’s Devotional: Have you Forgotten who you are?

Author: Angela Craig

In his book, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit, Henri Nouwen wrote, “One of the tragedies of our life is that we keep forgetting who we are.”

As a leader and a teacher of women, I often find that “forgetting who we are” is the biggest obstacle I face when coaching women who are struggling to find their purpose or calling. At one time in our lives, somewhere deep inside us, was a yearning for more, a dream that is now forgotten, a burning desire to make a difference; but then came the bumps in the road, the disappointments, the naysayers, the mistakes, the choices, the sacrifices, the seasons of life…

We reject the unique individual God created us to be and click the “apply now” button to whatever society, family, or friends thinks we should be instead.

Nouwen continues his thought-provoking words…

The real trap of our lives is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, “Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody.” … [My dark side says,] I am no good… I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved.” Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.

Before you can truly live out your calling, you must know and experience the fact that you are God’s chosen one. You are His “Beloved”. There is a daily renewal in this knowledge and experience of God’s undivided attention and love upon our lives. If you are to fulfill your purpose, you must first know the Purpose Giver. Your relationship of daily devotion will be a reward greater than any ministry you could ever have. This is truly what we were made for, to know God so well that we begin to see our true, unbroken, identity in His reflection; to hear our Father whisper to us, “You are my chosen, Beloved.”

Today, it is time to remember who you are.

Chosen and beloved by God.