Who are you? Your answer to that question says a lot about the way that you view yourself. Depending on your own personal list of responsibilities, you may answer that question by saying that you’re someone’s parent, somebody’s child, an employee, an employer, a caregiver, a free spirit, a student, a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, or any other number of possible answers. However, those answers aren’t a true indication of who you are.
Most of us have a skewed self-perception. In most cases, you probably see yourself as less than what God sees you as. We compare ourselves to others who are at a better place in their careers and decide that we’re not really successful. We look at pictures and social media posts of how other people seem to be doing in their marriage and with their children and decide that our home lives just aren’t as good as theirs. We see God’s blessings in the lives of our friends and families and fall into the trap of believing that He cares more about them than He does us.
We often get what we do confused with who we are. If you’re a doctor, that’s wonderful; the world needs doctors. However, being a doctor is what you do, it’s not necessarily who you are. To truly understand who you are, you should try to find your identity in Christ. What does God see when He looks at you? With that question answered, you can get a better understanding of who you really are.
Gideon
The first time the Bible mentions Gideon is in Judges chapter six. Gideon had a preconceived notion about who he was and what he could do. However, in the face of Israel’s captivity, God challenged Gideon’s self-perception, as well as his faithfulness in God.
Judges 6:11 (ESV)
Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite , while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
Our first glimpse at Gideon is very telling. First of all, look at what he’s doing and where he’s doing it. He’s hiding behind a large winepress beating out the wheat in order to hide it from the Midianites. Gideon was so afraid of the people who were holding Israel in captivity, that he was trying to hide the fact that he had food.
It’s also important to take note of who was watching. Many theologians believe that “the angel of the Lord” is another term for a preincarnate Christ. Judging by the fact that the writer called Gideon “his son,” it’s a fair assumption.
Even though Gideon was showing anything but bravery, God still considered Gideon as his child. Do you ever feel like you’re lacking something? Perhaps bravery? When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your cowardice. Instead, He just sees one of His children.
Judges 6:12 (ESV)
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
Wait, what? A “mighty man of valor” was considered one of the elite soldiers in an army. Gideon certainly didn’t look like an elite soldier. He resembled a coward who was hiding his attempt to prepare some grain. However, God saw something that Gideon clearly didn’t even see in himself.
God’s perception of you may go well beyond your own perception. When we look at ourselves, we often see our flaws and our shortcomings. Physically speaking, you may look in the mirror and see a few grey hairs, some wrinkles and maybe a few extra pounds that you’d like to drop. Our spiritual self-examination may uncover much of the same.
However, when God calls you a mighty man or woman of valor, you can rest in the fact that His description of you is exactly what you are. Gideon didn’t have it all together, but God saw what he could be. Look at Gideon’s response:
Judges 6:13 (ESV)
And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.
Not only did Gideon doubt himself, but Gideon was pretty vocal about doubting God. Gideon stated that if God was really for Israel, why were they facing so much hardship? Gideon’s statement went so far as to say that he had heard the stories from his ancestors about God’s deliverance, but now that seemed like nothing more than a fable.
How would God respond?
Judges 6:14 (ESV)
And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
Not only did God not shy away from Gideon’s doubt, but He also said that He was going to use Gideon to deliver Israel from captivity. Gideon was still doubtful, as he pointed out that he was the least important person in one of the least important families in Israel. But God was insistent. Gideon was chosen and God was with him.
Sure enough, as you read through the rest of Judges 6 and the next couple chapters, you see that God was true to His word. Gideon defeated Israel’s captors and even destroyed the altars they had built to their false gods.
God could’ve turned away from Gideon due to his cowardice. God certainly could’ve given up on Gideon in the face of his doubt. God could’ve given up on Gideon after he made excuses. But He didn’t. Instead, He saw what Gideon could be and used that in order to accomplish His purpose.
You may see a lot of yourself in Gideon. Perhaps you don’t feel bold and brave. Maybe you even have moments where you doubt your faith and make excuses about why you’re not good enough. God sees you for what you really are. His perception of you is true. When God sees you, He sees someone who is called, able and ready to accomplish His purpose. God sees His child, just like He did with Gideon.
A Closing Prayer:
God, help me to see myself the way that You see me. Instead of focusing on past failures, bad decisions and my inabilities, help me to focus on the fact that I am Yours. In Christ’s name, Amen.