The Exhaustion of Self-Creation
When Facebook first arrived at my college, I remember the rush to set up a profile so everyone could know who I was, what I liked, and whether I was available. Then, there were endless friend requests and obsessively checking to see what was going on in other people's lives. Now, social media is as invisible as the air we breathe. I've spent more hours than I want to admit polishing my profiles, editing tweets, and changing shirts before a dinner party. With cameras everywhere, we are constantly working on how others see us. It's exhausting.
Matthew 3:16-17
When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased."
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has not yet healed a leper, calmed a storm, or preached a sermon. He hasn't died for the sins of the world. He's not even on TikTok. Before he does anything for anyone, the Father speaks: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased." We're told we're free to be whatever we want. But the price tag is hidden: if we create ourselves, then we must sustain ourselves. In our world, identity is achieved. We stack up accomplishments like bricks to build a tower that says, "I matter." If we succeed, we feel pride; if we fail, we feel crushed. Our identity is fragile because it depends on our latest performance review and the vibe on social media. But in God's world, identity is received. Love isn't a reward for performance; it's the fuel for it. The catch? Whoever defines our identity has authority over our lives. We can't escape this principle; we can only choose who is in charge. We resist this. But if we knew that his way of life was the path to thriving and his words were never used to exploit us, then we would gladly call ourselves his sons and daughters. In Christ, our heavenly Father looks at us with all our insecurities and brokenness and says what he said to Jesus: "You are my beloved child." The Father confirmed that Jesus was beloved before he performed. He offers the same gift to us.
Reflection Questions
In what specific area of your life (work, parenting, social media) do you feel the most pressure to "prove" who you are?
How does it change your perspective to realize God pronounced his pleasure over Jesus before Jesus started his ministry?
If you truly believed your identity was received rather than achieved, what is one thing you would stop doing this week?
One Thing to Try
Self-affirmation feels hollow. Sit with God and ask him to remind you that he loves you. Then text a friend and tell them how you see God at work in their lives.