WHO ARE YOU?

Who are you? 

Who, who, who, who?

In 1978, Who Are You peaked at number 2 on the charts as Roger Daltrey questioned a generation about their identity.  The search for identity is the age old quest for a purpose in life and reason for existence. Yet, a better question would be, whose are you?  The answer to which will solve the puzzle of our identity.

So whose are you?  For some the answer is unknown, for others it is unbelievable, but for me, the answer is life altering.  Whose am I?  I am the cherished daughter of the King of Kings.  Did you catch that?  I am not just the daughter of the King of Kings, which in itself is a remarkable identity, but I am his cherished daughter.  He delights in me.  I am the apple of his eye.

To know my Father, Abba, is to stop in your tracks and drop to your knees in awe.  He is powerful and majestic, holy and just.  He speaks entire universes into existence.  He numbers the stars and counts the grains of sand.  And he loves me, and calls me his child.  Together we connect in the most intimate of ways.  He calls my name and I listen.  He smiles on me and my soul radiates with joy.  He laughs at my blunders in a tender playful way, and he calls me to him when I wander.  He loves me enough to take my hand and lead me from danger, and he fills my world with beauty.  He is so good to me.

I wasn't always his though. Once I was far away from him, lonely and afraid.  I was surrounded by pain and hurt, bitterness and anger.  It was so dark when I wasn't his child.  It felt so hopeless, futile, and despondent.  The day he adopted me, my life began to change.  Light broke through darkness, warmth overcame cold.  He scooped me up in his strong arms, and I was his.

Even though my life had forever been changed once I was adopted, I didn't know how to live that way.  I didn't know how to feel, what to do.  I needed time to heal before I could begin to live as the princess that I am.  I needed time to learn who he was and how much he loved me.  I needed time to grow.

He was so faithful and loving, even then.  He took time to walk with me, to share himself with me, so that I could learn to trust him, to delight in him.  Sometimes it takes my breath away just thinking how gentle he is.  I smile when I think his name.

That process of learning to be his daughter was challenging.  He sent his other children to teach me, to guide me, to empower me.  I learned that being his daughter came with responsibilities as well as rights.  He gave me all his authority and power, and many gifts to govern with, and he gave me the responsibility to build his kingdom with him.  He wanted me to be his partner to show his love and glory to all those who didn't know him.  The gifts he gave me were for me to use and develop, so that more could know his extravagant love.  It is said that being a princess is hard work, but being his daughter is really no struggle at all.  He works with me.  With him, I can accomplish anything and the burden is light.

It amazes me how different I am from my brothers and sisters.  We are all so unique.  When we come together to build his kingdom, nothing can stop us.  We all have our own purpose, our own bit of him to bring to the puzzle.  Often though, I find others who were adopted into the family that do not know how to join in the building, or they feel called to build but don’t know where to start.  He gifted me with an eye to spot them and an ability to help them take the next steps.  It is so exciting to see him at work in their lives.

So, how about you?  
Do you know whose you are?  
Do you know your next steps?  
Maybe your next step is to get to know Abba more?  
Maybe it is to develop the gifts he has given you?  
Maybe he has called you to build?  


Whatever it is, be strong and courageous and take that next step.