More Than a Label: Finding Your True Identity in Christ
One of the greatest battles in recovery is the battle over identity. For years, many of us lived under labels — some given to us, some spoken over us, and some we adopted ourselves. Words like addict, failure, screw‑up, disappointment, hopeless, broken, or too far gone can cling to the soul and shape how we see ourselves. But none of these labels reflect the truth of who we are in Christ.
Scripture teaches that identity is not earned — it is given. When we come to Jesus, He does not simply forgive our past; He gives us a new name, a new nature, and a new identity. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Recovery is not just about changing behaviors; it is about embracing who God says we are.
Labels focus on what we’ve done. Identity focuses on what Christ has done. Labels point to our failures. Identity points to His redemption. Labels keep us stuck in shame. Identity calls us into freedom.
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly replaces false labels with true identity:
- Gideon saw himself as weak, but God called him a mighty warrior (Judges 6:12).
- Peter saw himself as unreliable, but Jesus called him a rock (Matthew 16:18).
- The woman caught in adultery was labeled by her sin, but Jesus called her forgiven and free (John 8:11).
- The prodigal son expected to be labeled a servant, but the father restored him as a beloved son (Luke 15:22–24).
God does the same for us. He speaks a better word over our lives — one rooted in grace, not performance. When we surrender to Christ, we become children of God (John 1:12), chosen, redeemed, and deeply loved. Our past may explain us, but it does not define us.
In recovery, it is important to recognize the difference between acknowledging our struggles and identifying with them. Honesty requires admitting where we’ve been. Identity requires believing who God says we are. We can say, “I struggle with addiction,” without saying, “Addiction is who I am.” We can say, “I’ve made mistakes,” without saying, “I am a mistake.”
Shame tries to glue our failures to our identity. Grace breaks that glue. Shame says, “This is who you are.” Grace says, “This is what Christ has redeemed.”
As we grow in recovery, we learn to reject the old labels and embrace the truth of Scripture:
- You are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7).
- You are loved (Romans 8:38–39).
- You are chosen (1 Peter 2:9).
- You are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
- You are not your past (Isaiah 43:18–19).
- You are being made new (Revelation 21:5).
Identity is not a feeling — it is a fact rooted in God’s Word. Even on days when you don’t feel new, God is still shaping you into the person He created you to be. Recovery becomes stronger and more stable when we live from identity instead of shame.
Reflection: What old label still tries to define you? What truth from God’s Word can you begin to embrace as your real identity in Christ?