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Christina Fox

A Heart Set Free
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A Life Update
Feb 4, 2025
A Life Update
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Jul 2, 2024
Available Now: Who Are You?
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Jul 2, 2024
Encouragement for Parents When Life Mutes Us
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Encouragement for Parents When Life Mutes Us
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May 16, 2024
Coming Soon: Who Are You?
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Coming Soon: Who Are You?
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Apr 4, 2024
Caring for Hurting Women in the Church
Jan 30, 2024
Caring for Hurting Women in the Church
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Jan 30, 2024
Four Truths to Remember in 2024
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Four Truths to Remember in 2024
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The Waiting of Advent
Dec 5, 2023
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The Wonder of God's Faithfulness
Nov 21, 2023
The Wonder of God's Faithfulness
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When We Speak the Gospel to One Another
Oct 24, 2023
When We Speak the Gospel to One Another
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Oct 24, 2023
When God Asks A Question
Oct 3, 2023
When God Asks A Question
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Oct 3, 2023
The Encouragement We Really Need
Sep 19, 2023
The Encouragement We Really Need
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Sep 19, 2023
The Great Big Sad: Available Now
Sep 12, 2023
The Great Big Sad: Available Now
Sep 12, 2023
Sep 12, 2023
Keep the Heart
Sep 5, 2023
Keep the Heart
Sep 5, 2023
Sep 5, 2023
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Aug 24, 2023
Join the Launch Team for The Great Big Sad
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Aug 24, 2023
Coming Soon: The Great Big Sad
Aug 1, 2023
Coming Soon: The Great Big Sad
Aug 1, 2023
Aug 1, 2023

Identity in Changing Seasons

March 7, 2017

Who am I? 

This is a question I've been asking myself lately. I knew who I was where we used to live. But who am I now in this new place? This new community? This new church? Who am I now that my kids need me less and less with each passing year?

Who am I?

This is a question I've asked myself numerous times in my life. When I was a teen, I asked myself this question as I looked at the other teens around me and wondered: "Who am I if I don't play sports? Who am I when everyone is categorized by what they wear, where they live, who they date, and what they look like? Who am I when I don't fit in anywhere?"

The question returned when I was newly married and I attempted to navigate the challenging questions: "Who am I as a married woman? Is my identity wrapped up in who I am married to and how good a wife I am?"

When we decided I would stop working as a counselor to stay home with our children, I wondered: "Who am I now that I can't identify myself by my work? What does it mean to be a stay-at-home mom? What happens to those gifts and skills God has given me, do they just get buried in with the pile of laundry that never dissipates?"

I know that around the corner lies even more questions, like "Who am I now that the kids are out of the house and on their own? Who am I when I can't get around like I used to? Who am I when I need other people to do things for me that I used to do for myself?"

A Secure Identity

Throughout my life, the responsibilities, roles, jobs, and commitments I make will change. They will come and go. What I do with my time in one decade will likely be different in the next. My identity can't be rooted in those things. Even a role as important as motherhood can't be how I define myself. It can't be what I rest in to give my life meaning. Because what happens when the house is empty and I'm no longer needed?  

Though I'm prone to forget, Scripture tells me who I am. It gives me an enduring meaning and purpose. It's something that will not change no matter what changes in my life or in the world around me. It won't change with my age or the season of life I am in. It won't change whether I live in this town or in another. It's not effected by what I do but it does inform what I do.

When God spoke this world into existence, He created mankind. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were made to image God. "Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27). They were given responsibility to rule over the world God had made as His representatives. They imaged Him in their work, in their creativity, in their rest. They glorified Him in their obedience, in their relationship with one another, and in their enjoyment of being in His presence.

Then they fell into sin. They defied the one thing God told them they couldn't do. Because Adam was our representative, his action had an effect on all of us. When he fell, we all fell. We all inherit our sin nature from him. Yet even before God announced the curses upon Adam and Eve, He prefaced it with this promise, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15).

Jesus is the Second Adam, the one who perfectly obeyed, and the fulfillment of that promise in Genesis 3:15. That's because He is God incarnate. "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Through faith in Christ and His perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, we are united to Him and are adopted into God's family. Christ's obedience is given to us. Because He obeyed in our place, because we are united to Him by faith, God looks at us and accepts us. He has given us the gift of His Spirit who is even now at work in us, conforming us into the image of Christ. 

We were created as image bearers and made to reflect God's glory. Though the image was broken by the Fall, through our adoption into the family of God, we are now redeemed image bearers. That's our identity. We are "in Christ." We now live to bring Him glory. The Westminster Confession tells us that our primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That was Adam and Eve's purpose in the Garden and through Christ, we are enabled to once again to live out that purpose and identity.

When I wonder who I am in the various contexts and seasons of life, I have to remember this truth: I am in Christ. Whatever changes take place throughout the seasons of my life, whatever new experiences I face, I remain a child of God. I am united with Christ; I bear His image in this world. This identity gives shape to how I do the jobs, roles, and tasks God gives me. This identity informs what it looks like for me to be a wife, mother, friend, and co-worker. It defines how I serve and love others, and even how I live out the final years of my life. This identity is always with me and will be with me into eternity. "You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:15-17).

So who am I? I am in Christ. I am God's own. I am an image bearer created to glorify and enjoy my Maker.

 

 

 

In God's Still Working On Me Tags identity in Christ, image of God, glorifying God
← Growing as a WriterOn Lament, Habakkuk, and My Favorite Passsage →

About Christina

I'm so glad you are here! I'm Christina and this is a place where I desire to make much of Jesus and magnify the gospel of grace. Will you join me?
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Desiring God
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enCourage Women's Ministry Blog
Ligonier Ministries
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I’m in the mountains of Virginia this weekend, walking through the Psalms of Lament with the lovely women of Trinity Pres.
I’m in the mountains of Virginia this weekend, walking through the Psalms of Lament with the lovely women of Trinity Pres.
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I’m in Richmond this weekend, talking about relationships in the church at Sycamore Pres. I love meeting my sisters in Christ!
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This new devotional book based on Colossians helps readers see their secure identity in Christ. Congrats to @aimeejosephwrites on writing this beautiful, encouraging book!
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I’m in Tacoma this weekend for a work related event. Beautiful place to catch up with Covenant College alumni!
I’m in the mountains of Virginia this weekend, walking through the Psalms of Lament with the lovely women of Trinity Pres. I love endorsing books for fellow writing friends. And not just because I get new books to add to my shelves! 😊 I know the labor involved in bringing a book into the world and want to encourage my friends in their efforts. Here are two that just arr I’m in Richmond this weekend, talking about relationships in the church at Sycamore Pres. I love meeting my sisters in Christ! Senior night was a blast! I’m sure it will come as no surprise to those who know us best, but we have another Scot in the family! We are excited that our youngest will be at Covenant College next year. #wearethescots #newscot I love this new book by @sarahpwalton! It’s a retelling of the parable of the prodigal son and helps parents talk with their children about the things we might chase after that only leave us empty and the hope found in Jesus Christ. I found fall in New Jersey! I’m here speaking to the women of The Church Gathered and Scattered about the fear of the Lord. They’ve been so welcoming and hospitable. It’s a joy to connect with my sisters in the Lord I love getting new books in the mail from writing friends! Betsy’s book on peer pressure will help young children turn to Jesus in the midst of temptations they face from peers. The illustrations are engaging, the story relatable and Christ cen This new devotional book based on Colossians helps readers see their secure identity in Christ. Congrats to @aimeejosephwrites on writing this beautiful, encouraging book! I’m in Tacoma this weekend for a work related event. Beautiful place to catch up with Covenant College alumni!

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