Fighting the Lies

This is the story of how I learned a new lesson:

Don’t let anyone tell you who you are but God.

If people have tried to tell you who you have been, who you are, or who you will be, yet they were totally, painfully, and damagingly off, then you know what I mean.

This is the story of how I learned a new lesson:

Don’t let anyone tell you who you are but God.

If people have tried to tell you who you have been, who you are, or who you will be, yet they were totally, painfully, and damagingly off, then you know what I mean.

I had someone tell me once that he knew how I would interact in certain situations because he knew that I was greedy and solely interested in money. Stunned, I asked why he had such an impression of me. He then told me how he had interpreted one interaction we had as me being greedy. The funny thing was my decision during that event was me actually assuming I’d take a hit financially, not the other way around.

I found out this person’s opinion of me four years after that event. I realized the impact this person’s opinion had on my life because of the impact he had on many of my friend’s and coworkers. It wouldn’t have been as big a deal to me because obviously this person just misinterpreted me and didn’t understand me, but it was for years, influencing others, and I found out so much later.

I was so hurt and confused by all of this. I knew he wasn’t right, but I questioned myself a lot. Maybe I was greedy and selfish, but then I’d remember my real intentions that were not greed at all. I’ve always put an emphasis on listening to others and really checking to see if what they say is true. So often, other people can be a mirror that shows us parts of ourselves we really can’t see.

And we should listen to people. Take in what they say. Analyze it. Sift it. But we can’t allow it to make an imprint, unless God confirms it.

Easier said that done, huh? Especially as we are so quick to take things personally, compare ourselves to others, and let people speak into our lives more than we let God.

So, what can we do? The woman at the well (John 4) really helped me work through this. She interacted with Jesus not knowing who he was for quite a long time. Then wham-o, he’s telling her all about her life, the life that she’s ashamed of, the life that I’m sure there was plenty of gossip about. She knew what other people said and thought of her, or she wouldn’t have come at such an odd hour alone to draw her water. Maybe it was true what they said, but how did she get to that point? I’m guessing she began just believing and acting like what everyone said: she’s not worth anything really.

Jesus, however, he said differently. She was worth everything to him. She was someone he’d come for, specifically for. She was someone he loved and someone that could spread his love. She was worth it. When she finally believed it, look at what she did–she brought her whole village to Christ.

To me, that’s the key. People will talk. They’ll say things. They may be true; they may not be. No matter what, God says differently. He says we’re worth it. We’re not just these totally sinful creatures that others may see (whether they’ve caught us in a real sin or one they’ve imagined). We’re so much more. God can see it. So, must we.