From Tolerated to Delighted In
For a long time, I struggled with feelings of unworthiness. I believed people merely tolerated me because I happened to be part of their lives in one way or another. I can’t fully pinpoint where those insecurities came from, but they shaped how I saw myself, and even how I thought God saw me.
I never saw myself as beautiful, and when people said kind things about me, I assumed they were mocking me. Deep down, I believed God tolerated me because of Jesus, not because He actually delighted in me.
I prayed, fasted, and served faithfully, yet there was a quiet voice inside me that always whispered, “You are never enough.”
When God Rewrites the Story
One day, while reading Isaiah 62, something happened that changed everything for me:
“You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah…for the Lord will take delight in you.” Isaiah 62:3–4
It felt as though God was speaking directly to me.
Around the same time, I was drawn to Ephesians 1, where Paul writes:
“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will… In Him we were also chosen.” Ephesians 1:4–5, 11
In that moment, it felt like God whispered to my heart:
“You are not trying to be enough, you already are.”
Living from Acceptance, Not Approval
That revelation changed everything.
I stopped striving for approval and started living from acceptance. My confidence grew. My prayers became bold instead of timid. My joy returned, not because my circumstances changed, but because my identity settled.
I finally understood who I am in Christ.
- I am my Father’s delight.
- A daughter loved without conditions.
- A crown of splendor in His hand.
- A royal diadem held by God Himself.
I sometimes say I’m God’s favourite, and then I remind people that we all are. The difference is not God’s love, but whether we’ve allowed ourselves to see ourselves the way He sees us. When we do, everything about how we relate to Him begins to change.
Joint Heirs, Not Co Heirs
Scripture tells us:
“And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:17
That word “joint” matters.
In property terms, joint heirs don’t split an inheritance into portions. Each heir has full access to the whole. Nothing is divided.
That means everything Christ has, we have, not as co-heirs with limited portions, but as joint heirs with full inheritance.
Paul reinforces this in Ephesians 1:
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” Ephesians 1:13–14
The moment we believe, our identity changes forever.
Who You Are in Christ
Knowing who you are in Christ is the foundation of freedom and healing.
When you don’t know your identity, you live reacting to lies, fear, rejection, guilt, and comparison.
When you know who you are, you live from truth, peace, confidence, and purpose.
Here are truths worth settling in your heart:
- You are accepted, not tolerated.
- You are forgiven, not condemned.
- You are chosen, not overlooked.
- You are loved, not merely pitied.
- You are complete in Christ, lacking nothing
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Walking Daily in This Identity
Living from your identity takes intentional renewal. Here are practices that have helped me:
- Renew your mind daily — replace lies with truth from Scripture.
- Speak life over yourself — agree with what God says about you.
- Refuse comparison — your worth is not measured against others.
- Forgive yourself — healing begins when shame is no longer rehearsed.
- Rest in grace— you don’t have to earn what Jesus already gave.
“You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of adoption.” Romans 8:15
A teacher of The Word once said, “When you know who you are, you stop begging for what’s already yours.”
Identity is not discovered through performance. It is revealed through relationship.
A Prayer from My Heart
Father, thank You for calling me Your child.
Thank You that I am accepted in the Beloved, chosen, forgiven, and free.
I receive Your truth, that I am loved without conditions.
I walk in confidence, peace, and joy, knowing my identity is secure in You.
I am who You say I am, nothing less, nothing more.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen. ❤️
When you truly know who you are in Christ, everything changes.
You stop striving, stop shrinking, and stop settling for less than what grace has already given you.
And that’s where freedom begins.
If this message has stirred questions about your identity, or if you sense that you’ve known about God but long to experience new life in Christ, we would love to hear from you. And if you are already a believer but want to grow in understanding your identity in Christ and learn to live from grace rather than striving, you are warmly welcome here. Please reach out to us, we are honoured to walk with you in a safe, pressure-free space rooted in love, truth, and grace.
