Dangerous for Good, Part 2: Identityનમૂનો

Day 1: Uncovering the True Self

There’s a God-given identity, deeply real and profoundly true, that lives within each of us, yet often it remains hidden behind a false self we’ve created to protect our hearts and arrange for love. It’s created early, in the foundational formative years of our lives. We wear it like a second skin, and it becomes familiar, even comfortable. But the good news is–it is not us.

Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, we hide. We hide from God, from others, and sometimes even from ourselves. We build a false self, thinking it will earn us the love and approval we crave, but it leaves us empty.

I’ll never forget the moment when I began to realize the depth of the false self in my own life. I was caught in a cycle of striving, constantly proving myself and living out of fear of rejection. It felt like I was always wearing a mask, afraid to show my true heart. Yet, in a quiet moment of reflection, God gently whispered: “You are more than this.”

The true self is who God created you to be. It’s the essence of your being—alive, free, and authentic. It is found in Christ, the new man, rescued and redeemed. When we live from our true self, we experience the fullness of life that Jesus promised in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have Life and have it to the full.” This is the Life we’re meant for—a life in full alignment with God, where we rise to the abundant Kingdom Life He offers us.

But the false self? It’s a counterfeit. A defensive façade, always seeking approval, always hiding, always afraid. It is rooted in the old man, the flesh—the person we were before Christ redeemed us. And yet, so often, we don’t recognize it for what it is. We become so accustomed to its presence that we believe it’s the real us.

“In order to discover who we are, we need to discover who we aren’t.”

-Michael Thompson, The Heart of a Warrior

We all have a false self, and if we don’t see it, it’s likely running the show. The false self operates on three core beliefs: something to hide, something to prove, and something to fear. It’s the voice that says, “Well, that’s just how I am,” when we’re confronted with something uncomfortable or challenging in ourselves. But that’s not the truth of who you are. Jesus is the only One who can claim “I AM.” When we say, “that’s just how I am,” we may be clinging to a false identity that keeps us from walking in the freedom Christ offers.

The false self thrives in distraction and busyness, judgments and declarations. It fills our days with noise and activity, keeping us from sitting in the quiet places where God can speak to us. The false self keeps us numb, avoiding the deep work of transformation. But when we begin to sit with the uncomfortable feelings, when we allow God to reveal what’s underneath, we start to see the truth: the false self is not who we are.

The good news is this: the false self is false. It is not the real you. And you don’t have to live under its rule. You have the choice to step into the freedom of your true self, the person you were always meant to be. This is the invitation of the Gospel—to lay down the false and embrace the true, to let go of the mask and live fully in the love and identity God has given you.

As you reflect on all this with God today, consider asking Him:

Father, where have I hidden behind a false self in my life? What am I afraid to face or let go of?

Jesus, how do You see me? Who am I in Your eyes?

Holy Spirit, what are the lies I’ve believed that have kept me from embracing my true self in You? Show me where I’ve been hiding, and help me step into Your truth.