We all long for a sense of significance and security, but many things we hope will fill those longings only make us more insecure. How can we change our mindset to find our security in Christ, and how can we recognize when we aren’t placing our identity and significance in God? Why does having our eyes fixed on Jesus give us the security we desire?
The Problem of Misplaced Identity
Many people struggle to find lasting security and confidence because they seek satisfaction in temporal things. They place their hope and trust in things like…
- Jobs
- Money
- Opinions of others
- Being a good person
The problem is that nothing in our physical world will last permanently. Jobs will come and go, and sometimes, even our ability to do those jobs ends. Money can seem to provide security for a time, but it will not last forever. People are hard to please, and we will ultimately let them down. Doing good things in the hopes that our good actions will outweigh our bad actions when we get to heaven is a terrifying and hopeless way to live.
When we try to find security in our strivings, we become worn down and never know when enough will ever be enough to please God.
7 Reasons to Find Significance in God
Only God can provide identity, significance, satisfaction, and security. We can rest knowing He can perfectly fulfill our hearts' longings. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He offers us this rest from our strivings and security in many ways.
- We can find security in God because Jesus redeemed us.
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”—Colossians 1:13-14
Jesus alone can meet our greatest need—forgiveness of sins. Because of what He did for us on the cross, we have the security of forgiveness and redemption from sin when we trust Him. We are no longer defined by our sins but by the power of God living in us. We find security in God when we believe that our identity is rooted in Him alone.
2. We can find security in God because nothing can separate us from Him.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 8:38-39
When we trust in God, we can be secure in our salvation. While the world can strip us of all our possessions and dignity, it is powerless to take our relationship with God and salvation from us. Salvation is a gift from God that will never fade. We never have to worry about our eternal destination because the Holy Spirit seals our salvation when we place our faith in God. Resting in this assurance, we develop a deeper sense of security in God.
3. We can find security in God because He loves us perfectly.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” —1 John 3:1a
God loves us more than we can imagine, and we don’t have to try to earn or prove ourselves worthy of His love. He knows us intimately, is aware of our failures, and loves us perfectly anyway. Knowing truths about God’s love for us provides an incredible sense of safety and security in His love.
4. We can find security in God because He is good.
“Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” —Psalm 107:8-9
God is a good Heavenly Father, and He knows what we need better than we do. Because of His goodness, He meets our needs and cares for us. Sometimes, He withholds the things we think we need because He has something better in mind. There is much security in relying on the One who is good and knows exactly what we need.
5. We can find security in God because He is our refuge.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1
God wants us to turn to Him when we face trials in life. He freely offers the strength and wisdom we need to carry on. He will use our trials to deepen our relationship with Him. Knowing that we can turn to God in any situation should give us great comfort and security.
6. We can find security in God because He never changes.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8
We often place our identity and significance in things we try to change — jobs, abilities, relationships, and circumstances. It’s hard to find security in things that won’t always last. Yet God never changes, and there is security in knowing He is constant throughout time.
7. We can find security in God because He fulfills His promises.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” —Hebrews 10:23
God will remain faithful to His promises because it’s part of His nature. He never breaks a promise. What promises has He made? He promised to always be with us, forgive our sins, establish His Kingdom, and offer eternal life to those who believe in Him. Those weren’t just empty words Jesus uttered but truths that provided us confidence, hope, and security. We can trust no one else to be so true to their word.
Application
Putting our identity in Christ means letting go of the things we try to cling to for our security and stepping out in faith to trust God to meet our needs instead.
We find significance and security in Christ alone. If we try to put our confidence in anything the world has to offer, we will exhaust ourselves, and our efforts will be fruitless. Your value is not in what you do, but in who you are in Christ. That knowledge gives us security in God, confidence to walk in faith and obedience, and reassurance that He loves us perfectly.
When we let God define us, our identity begins to change. He makes us into a new creation. In Galatians 2:20, Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” In this new identity, we embrace being made in God’s image and find rest, freedom, and intimacy with Him.
Takeaway
Worldly things will never provide a true sense of security and meaning in our lives, and our identity can only be found in Christ. In Him, we find that we are perfectly loved, forgiven, and promised eternal life. He is also our refuge in times of need, transforming us into a new creation as we become defined by who we are in Him.
Do you struggle to understand and accept your identity in Christ fully? Maybe you have read God’s Word or heard someone tell you “who you are in Christ,” but you doubt God sees you as redeemed, forgiven, and a friend. Download a copy of our FREE Identity in Christ devotional to learn how God sees you and start to walk in security in your new identity!