At some point in our lives, we all struggle with issues of identity and finding a place to belong. During this time of Pandemic, that may be a more actual statement than many of us would like to admit. There are many ways we often try to identify ourselves using our job titles, marital status, parental status, race, or religion. We pray, fast, and study seeking to find the answer, but the answer is so simple that we often overlook it. Before you became who you are, and even before you were someone’s child, your identity was already established. That simple answer can be found in the chorus of the song by Chris Tomlinson, “Good Good Father.”
The chorus begins by saying, “You’re a good good Father, it’s who You are.” Adonai is the best Father any of us could ever ask for. He continues to bless us daily with new grace and mercy. There is nothing we could do to deserve this renewal of grace and mercy. We never have to earn it, work for it, or even wonder if it will be available for us tomorrow. We tend to err towards the opposite where we expect it despite never putting in any effort towards being worthy of it. That and the myriad of other things the Lord does for us is what makes Him a good Father. But the song goes on to say, “I’m loved by you; it’s who I am.” That is our simple identity! We are children loved by our good good Father. The moment we come into the realization that we are imperfect and often ungrateful children, who are loved by a good, all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful Father. Our issues of identity and purpose are no longer a problem. When we accept who we are in Yeshua, we no longer need to wonder what is next.
We are in uncertain times as a nation right now. Many people have lost loved ones, some have lost jobs, and almost all of us are facing difficult decisions on how to proceed (i.e., Is it safe to go back to work or send my child to school?). Do not be dismayed; we shall have joy in this season. Doing what is best for ourselves and our families is paramount currently, and many of us are wondering how to make the best decision. I genuinely do not have the answers, but I know someone who does. Yeshua! My prayer is that our good good Father does what He does best and gives each of us the wisdom, grace, and mercy that we need during these times. (James 1:2-6)
When we strip away all the glitz and glam who we think we are and get to the heart of who we are, we can see that our identity is in Yeshua. We were nothing before Him, and we would be nothing without Him. To be able to say I am loved by Him are the most powerful words you could ever utter. You are loved by the One who knew you before you became flesh, who sees you at your lowest low, who hears the silent tears, and the One who deals with the anger when things don’t go the way you wanted them to go. As children of Yeshua, we must stand on who we are because it allows our Father to continue to be the good good Father that He is!
Shalom Aleichem and Happy Jerusalem Day,
Dr. Raleigh B. Washington DD, MDIV
Dr. Raleigh Washington co-authored “Breaking Down Walls,” a winner of The Gold Medallion Book Award, and is president emeritus of Rock Church and Promise Keepers. Following Mother Theresa and Desmond Tutu, he was awarded Westminster College’s third Doctor of Peacemaking.
