A close friend recently told me that he felt “lost” and needed to find himself. I was a little surprised by this revelation. I thought, and still believe, I knew exactly who this person was. This man is relatively successful. He has a good paying job that he claims he enjoys. He has a loving and supportive wife, amazing children, and more than a few good friends. He is very active in his local church, even serving on a few of the church’s leadership teams. Yet, as my friend surveys the landscape of his life, he feels that something is missing. This wonderful life he’s built is insufficient and unsatisfying. I agree with my friend; he has lost himself. But, I disagree with his proposed solution; he does not need to find himself. He needs to find Jesus so that he can be made.
If our identity is married to what we achieve, accumulate, or how we feel at any given moment, we’ll always find ourselves feeling a little lost.
It’s easy to lose ourselves a little in this world. We’re constantly bombarded by millions of faces and voices preaching a gospel of entitlement, self-improvement, and self-service. We’re told we both deserve and need more, that we should expect better. When our dream life doesn’t materialize or fails to feel like a fairy tale, we are led to believe something is wrong with us or with those around us. Perhaps we’re in the wrong place, in the wrong profession, or in the wrong relationships. The world around us is more than happy to provide us with potential paths to a new and better you. We get spun in so many directions, it’s no wonder we can’t find ourselves. But, this world will never stop spinning and no matter how much we have or become, it will never be enough. If our identity is married to what we achieve, accumulate, or how we feel at any given moment, we’ll always find ourselves feeling a little lost.
The truth is, God does desire more for our lives than we can actualize by ourselves or with the help of anyone other than Jesus, Himself. We will never experience all God has for us or become who He’s made us to be by wandering around this life hoping to find ourselves. Rather, we must seek, find, and follow Jesus and He will make us all we’re meant to be.
Who we are is not something we find by pursuing some earthly ideal; it is something that is carefully and intimately made by divine hands.
In Matthew 4:18-20, we read, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Notice, Jesus doesn’t say “Follow me and you will find yourselves.” Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you…” Peter and Andrew knew who and what they were. They were sons. They were brothers. At least Peter was a husband. They were fishermen. We don’t know if they felt lost inside, but it’s not a reach to assume they probably wished they had and were more. The key to becoming their better, most ideal selves was not predicated on some worldly search for meaning, but on finding Jesus who could make them all God desired and designed them to become.
In Psalm 139:13-14, the psalmist writes, “You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God began making us long before we drew our first breath. He designed us with care and intricate craftsmanship. Who we are is not something we find by pursuing some earthly ideal; it is something that is carefully and intimately made by divine hands.
It’s only when we find and follow Jesus that we are able to become all God intends. It is only in His loving hands, that we will continue to be made whole. When you’re feeling lost, don’t run out into the world hoping to find yourself in the unknown. That will only result in a dizzying run in circles in pursuit of an ideal that doesn’t exist and likely losing important pieces of yourself in the process. Rather, seek Jesus and allow Him to make you more than you could imagine, but everything He intends.
