Tag: Identity

Posted in Faith in Real Life

I Know Who I Am

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

I’m going to be preachy here.

Very preachy.

Because there is something I hear often in the church that has started to bother me: “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”

I understand what people mean when they say it. Usually, it is intended to be humble. We are acknowledging that we didn’t save ourselves, that we didn’t earn our salvation, and that we desperately needed God’s grace.

I agree with all of that.

But I don’t agree with identifying myself as a sinner anymore.

I am saved by grace.

There is a difference.

I Know Who I Was

I was a sinner.

I have absolutely no problem saying that. I know who I was. I know what I’ve done wrong, the mistakes I’ve made, and the ways I’ve failed. Trust me, I’m not confused about my imperfections. I may very well be one of the most imperfect people I know.

But my imperfections are not my identity.

When I placed my faith in Jesus Christ and was born again, something changed.

Second Corinthians 5:17 says in the NLT, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

The old life is gone.

A new life has begun.

So why would I continue introducing myself by the old one?

I Am a New Creation

This is where I think we sometimes get stuck.

We know we’re saved, but we continue thinking of ourselves primarily as sinners who happen to be saved.

But Scripture tells me I am a new creation in Christ.

That doesn’t mean I’m perfect. It doesn’t mean I never sin or won’t make another mistake tomorrow. I absolutely will. I still need Jesus every single day.

If you need the reminder that following Jesus doesn’t require becoming Super Christian Wonder Woman, I’ve written about that, too.

But there is a difference between committing a sin and identifying as a sinner.

I can fail without making failure my identity. I can stumble without deciding that stumbling is who I am. I can need forgiveness without believing that my past has the authority to define me.

Jesus changed that.

Jesus Paid for Sin Once and for All

And this is where grace gets even more beautiful.

Hebrews 10:10 tells us that we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

Jesus didn’t pay for the sins I had committed up until the day I accepted Him and then leave me responsible for figuring out the rest. His sacrifice was more than sufficient.

First John 1:7 tells us that the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, “cleanses us from all sin.”

All.

That includes my past sin. It covers the things I still fail at today and the things I will do tomorrow that I haven’t even messed up yet.

Now, that doesn’t give me a license to sin. Quite the opposite. It makes me want to live differently.

Grace Is Not a License to Keep Sinning

Let’s be very clear about this because I know exactly where someone’s mind could go.

If Jesus has paid for all my sin, does that mean I can just do whatever I want?

No. Absolutely not.

Romans 6:1-2 addresses this very idea. Paul asks whether we should keep sinning so that God can give us more and more grace. His answer is essentially, of course not.

Grace isn’t permission to live however I want.

Grace is the reason I want to live differently.

When I understand what Jesus has done for me, I don’t want to casually walk back into the things He rescued me from. I want holiness. I want obedience. I want my life to look different because my heart has been changed.

I Want to Live From the Throne Room

This is why the phrase “living from the throne room” means so much to me.

Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

That is an extraordinary statement.

I’m not saying I’m God. I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m not saying I deserve anything. I’m simply saying that because of Jesus, I have access to God.

Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we can receive His mercy and find grace when we need it.

So I don’t want to spend my life standing outside the throne room thinking, I’m just a sinner. I’m not good enough. I don’t belong here.

Jesus says otherwise.

The door is open.

Come in.

Receive mercy.

Receive grace.

And then go live differently.

Holiness Is a Daily Choice

Living from the throne room doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing. It means allowing my relationship with God to transform the way I live.

I read my Bible because I want to know Him. I study Scripture because I want to understand what He says. I pray because I want an active relationship with my Father, not a Sunday-morning relationship with Him.

I worship, repent, listen, learn, serve, forgive, and try again when I fail.

I ask God to show me the places in my life that don’t look like Him. And when He shows me something, I don’t want to defend it with, “Well, I’m just a sinner.”

No.

I’m His daughter.

And because I’m His daughter, I want to become more like Him.

That’s the difference.

I Am Not Perfect. I Know That.

Please don’t misunderstand me.

I’m not walking around thinking I’ve arrived. I haven’t. I’m a work in progress. I’m imperfect. Sometimes spectacularly so.

There are days when I get it right and days when I get it very, very wrong. I still lose my patience. I still say things I shouldn’t. I still have attitudes I need to surrender. I still have areas where God is working on me.

I still need repentance.

I still need grace.

I still need Jesus.

But I don’t need to call myself a sinner to acknowledge any of that.

I can say, “I failed.”

I can say, “I sinned.”

I can say, “I need forgiveness.”

And then I can get back up.

Because my failure is an event.

It is not my identity.

I wrote more about this in Grace For Failure Days, because sometimes failure gets much louder than the truth.

I Know Who I Am Because I Know Whose I Am

This is really what I want us to take away.

I don’t want to identify myself by what Jesus came to save me from. I want to live from what He has done for me.

I was a sinner. I’ve been saved by grace. I am a now new creation.

I am His daughter.

And I’m still growing.

Those things can all be true at the same time.

I don’t need to pretend I never fail in order to know who I am. I simply need to believe what God says about me.

Because words matter.

Identity matters.

And I don’t want to keep introducing myself as someone defined by sin when Jesus has given me a new life.

I know who I was. I know what I’ve done. I know how imperfect I am.

But I also know what Jesus has done.

And because of Him, I know who I am.

I am saved by grace, and I am learning every day to live from the throne room of God, pursuing holiness not because I’m trying to earn His love, but because I already have it.

And that, my friends, is worth being preachy about.

A Little Encouragement for You

If you’ve been carrying an identity built around your past, your failures, or the things you wish you could undo, I hope you’ll take a moment today to remember who you are in Christ. You are not defined by your worst moments. You are His.

What would change in your life if you began living from that truth?

Posted in Faith in Real Life

When You Miss the Season You Prayed For

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

There is a quiet moment that often comes in midlife when we begin looking at our lives a little differently. It is not always because something is wrong. Sometimes it happens because something inside of us has changed. After years of moving through responsibilities, raising families, building careers, and simply doing what needed to be done, we finally have enough space to look around and ask deeper questions.

Did I become the person I thought I would become? Did my life turn out the way I imagined? Am I where I thought I would be by now?

Those questions can bring up so many emotions. Sometimes they fill us with gratitude because we can see how faithfully God carried us through seasons we never thought we would survive. Other times, they bring a sense of sadness because we realize some dreams did not unfold the way we expected.

I think many women quietly carry that feeling.

The grief of the life we imagined.

The career path we thought we would have.

The relationships we hoped would look different.

The version of ourselves we thought we would become.

But one of the greatest lessons God has been teaching me in this season is that the life I planned and the life He created are not always the same thing. And learning to trust Him with that difference has brought a deeper kind of peace than I ever expected.

The Weight of Comparing Our Lives

One of the hardest parts of living in today’s world is that comparison follows us everywhere. We see other people’s accomplishments, homes, careers, vacations, and celebrations, often without seeing the struggles, disappointments, and difficult seasons that exist behind the scenes.

It becomes easy to look around and wonder if we somehow missed something.

Maybe someone else’s life seems more successful.

Maybe someone else appears more settled.

Maybe someone else reached a goal we are still waiting for.

Before we realize it, we begin measuring our lives against someone else’s story instead of appreciating the one God is writing for us.

I have had to remind myself that God never asked me to live someone else’s life. He asked me to faithfully live mine.

Galatians 6:4 says, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

That verse has become more meaningful to me as I get older because comparison steals our ability to see the blessings right in front of us. When we constantly look at someone else’s path, we miss the beauty of the road God placed beneath our own feet.

Releasing the Dreams That Did Not Happen

One of the most tender parts of midlife is learning how to hold our dreams differently.

Some dreams are still waiting to happen. Some dreams have changed. Some dreams need to be released because God has something different in mind.

That does not mean those dreams were foolish.

It does not mean those desires were wrong.

It simply means God sometimes writes a story that looks different from the one we imagined.

For years, I think many of us believed that if our lives did not follow the plan we created, something had gone wrong. But what if God was not behind schedule? What if He was simply leading us somewhere we could not see yet?

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

There is so much comfort in remembering that God sees the entire picture when we only see one small piece.

Finding Peace With the Life You Have Today

One of the greatest gifts of this season has been learning to appreciate the life right in front of me.

Not the perfect life.

Not the imaginary life.

The actual one.

The one filled with answered prayers and unanswered questions. The one filled with beautiful memories and lessons learned through difficult seasons. The one where I still grow, still change, and still need God every single day.

Sometimes we spend so much time waiting for the next season that we forget to notice the one we are living right now.

Psalm 118:24 says, “The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

This verse reminds me that today is not just a waiting room for tomorrow. Today is a gift. This season matters. This moment matters.

Even the ordinary days that seem small are still part of the story God is creating.

God Is Not Finished Writing Your Story

One of the biggest lies we can believe in midlife is that our best days are behind us.

Maybe life looks different than we imagined. Maybe some doors closed. Maybe some opportunities passed. Maybe certain dreams took a different direction than we expected.

But God does not waste a single season.

He uses everything.

He uses the years we spent raising children.

He uses the years we spent working hard.

He uses the years we spent caring for others.

He uses the years we spent learning, struggling, growing, and starting over.

Every piece of our story matters.

Philippians 1:6 gives us this promise: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God began a work in you long before this season, and He is still continuing that work today.

You are not finished.

You are still growing.

You are still becoming.

The Freedom of Letting God Lead

I think one of the most freeing things we can do in midlife is loosen our grip on the timeline we created for ourselves.

Instead of constantly asking, “Why didn’t my life happen the way I thought it would?” we can begin asking, “God, what are You showing me in this season?”

That question changes everything.

Because surrender does not mean giving up. Surrender means trusting.

It means believing that God’s plans are not smaller than ours. They are often deeper, richer, and more meaningful than anything we could have created for ourselves.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

That promise was not only meant for the younger version of ourselves.

It is meant for the woman sitting here today.

The woman who is still learning.

The woman who is still growing.

The woman who is discovering that God is not finished yet.

Learning to Love the Story God Is Writing

Maybe midlife is not about chasing the life we thought we wanted. Maybe it is about finally recognizing the life God has been creating all along.

Maybe the dream was never only about what we accomplished. Maybe it was about who we became along the way.

The woman who learned patience.

The woman who found strength.

The woman who discovered grace.

The woman who realized she does not have to prove her worth because she was already loved by God.

I am learning to stop looking backward at everything I thought should have happened and start looking forward with open hands. The same God who carried me through every chapter before this one is still holding my story today.

And I trust Him with what comes next.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

I would love to hear from you. Have you ever found yourself grieving the life you thought you would have? What is God teaching you about trusting Him with the story He is writing?

Share your thoughts in the comments. Your words may encourage another woman who is walking through a similar season.

If this encouraged you, share it with another woman who may need the reminder that her story is not behind her.

God is still writing.

Posted in Midlife & Beyond

It’s OK to Want Something Just for You

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

There comes a point in midlife when a question quietly begins to rise in your heart: What do I want? Not what does everyone else need from me. Not what does my job require. Not what would make my family comfortable. But what do I truly desire in this season of life?

For many women, that question feels uncomfortable at first. We spent so many years caring for everyone else that we became experts at knowing what other people needed before they even asked. We managed schedules, carried responsibilities, solved problems, and made sure the people we loved had what they needed. Somewhere along the way, we became so focused on giving that we forgot how to receive.

Then life begins to shift.

Our children grow older. Our homes become quieter. Our responsibilities change. We may still work, still care for others, and still have plenty on our plates, but something feels different. There is a little more space to breathe, and in that space, we may find ourselves wondering if it is okay to want something for ourselves again.

And maybe you have asked yourself the same questions I have.

Is it selfish to want more?

Is it too late to start something new?

Have I already missed my opportunity?

I want to remind you of something I have been learning in this season: God does not stop working in our lives simply because we reach a certain age. He is not finished writing our stories because our children grow up, because our careers change, or because we enter a new chapter.

In fact, sometimes the later seasons of life are where God begins revealing parts of ourselves we never had time to explore before.

The Years When Everyone Else Came First

When I look back over my life, I can see how much of it centered around caring for others. I worked full time. I raised my daughters. I handled responsibilities that needed to be handled because that was the season I was in. There were years when I did not spend much time thinking about what I wanted because there were simply too many other things that needed my attention.

And honestly, I would not change those years.

Those seasons shaped me. They taught me patience, perseverance, compassion, and strength. They showed me how deeply I could love and how much I could carry when life required me to keep going.

But somewhere along the way, like many women, I learned to put myself last.

Maybe you know what that feels like. You make sure everyone else has dinner before you think about what you need. You take care of everyone’s emotions before you acknowledge your own. You celebrate everyone else’s accomplishments while quietly wondering what happened to the dreams you once carried.

The beautiful thing about God is that He does not ask us to erase those years. He uses them.

Every season matters.

Every lesson matters.

Every experience matters.

Rediscovering Yourself in a New Season

One of the biggest surprises of midlife is realizing that you are not the same woman you were twenty years ago.

And that is a good thing.

You have learned. You have grown. You have walked through things you never expected to face. You have gained wisdom that only comes through experience.

But sometimes we struggle because we compare our current season to who we used to be. We expect ourselves to have the same energy, the same desires, and the same dreams we had years ago.

But God is not asking us to stay the same.

He is continually shaping us.

Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

I love this reminder because God specializes in new beginnings. He does not look at our age, our past mistakes, or the years we spent focused on others and decide our best days are behind us.

He sees a woman with wisdom.

He sees a woman with experience.

He sees a woman who has been refined through every season she has walked through.

Wanting Something for Yourself Does Not Mean You Love Others Less

I think many women struggle with guilt when they begin wanting something different. We wonder if pursuing our own interests means we are becoming selfish. We worry that making space for ourselves means we are taking something away from the people we love.

But I am learning that gratitude and desire can exist together.

You can be thankful for the life God has given you and still feel Him calling you toward something new.

You can love your family deeply and still make room for your own dreams.

You can appreciate your career and still wonder if God has another purpose waiting for you.

Wanting something for yourself does not mean you are unhappy with your life. Sometimes it means God is reminding you that He created you with gifts, passions, and purpose that still matter.

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”

The dreams, talents, and interests God placed inside you are not mistakes. They are part of how He created you.

Learning to Receive After a Lifetime of Giving

For many years, I understood love primarily through giving. I gave my time. I gave my energy. I gave my attention. I gave whatever was needed because that is what love often looks like.

But this season is teaching me that God also invites me to receive.

To receive rest.

To receive joy.

To receive creativity.

To receive the gifts He has placed inside me.

Sometimes women are comfortable serving but uncomfortable allowing themselves to be cared for. We know how to show up for everyone else, but we struggle to believe we are worthy of making space for ourselves.

Yet Jesus Himself modeled rest. Throughout Scripture, we see Him stepping away, praying, and making time to reconnect with the Father.

If Jesus needed moments of rest and renewal, we should not feel guilty for needing them too.

What Does God Still Have For You?

Maybe there is something you have always wanted to do but never had the opportunity to pursue.

Maybe you want to write.

Maybe you want to start a new career.

Maybe you want to create something with your hands.

Maybe you want to volunteer, learn, travel, or simply slow down enough to enjoy the life you have built.

Whatever it is, bring it before God.

Ask Him what this season can look like.

Ask Him what dreams He wants to awaken.

Ask Him what parts of yourself you may have forgotten while caring for everyone else.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

God is not surprised by this season of your life. He already knows where you are going, and He can guide each step forward.

You Are Not Too Late

I think many women need permission to admit they still have dreams.

So let me remind you today: you are not too old, and you are not too late.

God is still working.

God is still creating.

God is still calling.

The same God who strengthened you through the demanding seasons of motherhood, career, and responsibility is the same God who walks with you now.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

That does not mean God gives us every desire we have. It means that as we walk closely with Him, He shapes our hearts and guides our dreams according to His purpose.

Maybe this season is not about becoming someone new.

Maybe it is about finally making room for the woman God has been shaping all along.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

I would love to hear from you. What is something you have always wanted to do but kept putting aside because everyone else needed you first?

Maybe this is the season to bring that dream back to God and ask Him what He wants to do with it.

Share your thoughts in the comments. Your story may be the encouragement another woman needs today.

Because your story is not over.

God is still writing it.