Introductions

A few weeks ago, I was in our breakroom at work when I struck up a conversation with someone I don't usually speak with.  We typically keep it at workplace pleasantries, and I thought it would be the standard response.  To my surprise, when I asked how she was doing, she went into a deep dive into her life story.  I was caught off guard, but I wanted her to know she had my full attention, so I resisted the temptation to interrupt.  

We sat at one of the tables while she shared her life story as if it were an open book.  When she was finished, I asked her to imagine Jesus standing beside her, ready to introduce her to me.  I then asked her what He would say to set her apart from everyone else.  Would He say it with an affectionate smile?  Would He be holding her hand or have His arm draped around her?

I used identities in the Bible as inspirational references and asked her if Jesus would call her Mother of many nations like Abraham.  Perhaps He would introduce her as a Mighty woman of valor like Gideon, or might He say she is someone after His own heart, like King David.  She looked down at her hands and nervously nodded.

I then took a moment to gently prompt her to consider the other side of the coin.  I asked her to reflect on how the adversary might portray her to others, envisioning those potentially damaging narratives.  It could resemble the story of Doubting Thomas or Zacchaeus, a diminutive figure often remembered for his stature of character.  What if she were to be labeled as the Adulterous Woman, a title that echoes throughout history with shame and condemnation?

Unfortunately, we all know the kind of narrative the enemy is ready to weave.  It is a tale that emphasizes our failures, often highlighting missteps while reducing us to labels solely by our past mistakes.  As I spoke, she looked directly at me with a mix of vulnerability and resolve.  With a quiet intensity, she acknowledged, "You're describing me to a tee." At that moment, with the weight of the words hanging between us, revealing the truth she had been grappling with deep inside, she broke down in tears.

It's interesting to reflect on why recalling misleading narratives seems simpler than the deep and illuminating truths God presents to us.  Why does the negativity seem to carry more weight?

We often find ourselves ensnared by this deceptive mindset, and it's high time we stand against it.  We tend to evaluate our present situations and, in doing so, unknowingly adopt the identities associated with them.  When we encounter setbacks or failures in a specific area of our lives—whether in our careers, relationships, or personal endeavors—we mistakenly internalize these experiences as reflections of our self-worth, leading us to the erroneous conclusion that we are inherently failures rather than recognizing these moments as mere instances along our journey. 

It's crucial to understand that our circumstances do not define who we are; instead, they are opportunities for growth and learning.  By shifting our perspective, we can break free from this damaging cycle and embrace a more empowering narrative about ourselves.

As I shared my thoughts on how I imagined Jesus might introduce her, her face blushed and seemed to glow.  She playfully protested, claiming I was embarrassing her.  She questioned who exactly I was referring to, glancing around the room to see if I was talking to someone else.  She pulled out a napkin from the table and a pen from her pocket and started to document what I shared but, more importantly, what she heard God say directly to her.  It was a beautiful moment, witnessing her transformation.