Love that gives identity
In the last months I applied for new jobs and did some interviews with other companies, because I was unhappy with my tasks before my parental leave. For one particular firm I had to do a personality test during the application process. The HR lady was surprised that my score for “identification” was unusully low. I explained to her that I do not identifiy with jobs or companies anymore, because you can easily be replaced or if costs need to be cut, laid off. Which has just happened for some of my colleagues when I was on parental leave. Some of the colleagues that had been terminated due to the restructuring program had been working for over 30 years in that company and even started their professional training there. I can imagine that one is influenced by the company, when working for such a long time at the same place.
I recently saw a picture of a former colleague who has worked for some time in a French enterprise I did an internship at. Even though she is German, she dressed very French and wore its products. From the picture it looked like she very much identifies with the company and its style. I wondered about all these people. I guess depending on the degree of identification many feelings occur when losing or changing a job. And that is why I decided to not identify with companies, because one can so easily be replaced.
But with what can we identify that does not change and is purposeful?
I personally found my answer in the bible. My relationship with Jesus gives me a purpose that goes far beyond my worklife. It is not only a matter of daily life, but most of all eternal life.
So what does identification look like? The Cambridge dictionary defines the word identity as ”a person’s name and other facts about who they are”.
How do I identify with Jesus’ name and facts about who he is?
The bible says God is love. And his love for us makes us being loved (Jeremiah 31,3). The bible also says we are forgiven (Romans 4,5), chosen (John 15,16) and precious (Isaiah 43,4) in his eyes through Jesus Christ.
In Jeremiah 29 verse 11 we read: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
So his plans for my life are good plans. And honestly I truly believe this and trust him in that. God has led me through my various jobs and at some he closed doors and at other companies he opened some. I know from experience that his plans for me are good, because he is faithful and trustworthy and shown me his favor and love in the past.
Because of this I am able to focus my eyes on him and trust him whereever he leads me, because he means well for me. This knowledge and belief changes my thoughts and actions. It gives me peace and rest and hope. Hope, that one day I will be standing in his presence and share eternity with him. And this is the greatest wonder ever: that Jesus has died for me so I am able to come into God’s presence and he has given me a home in heaven, a heavenly citizenship that I am looking forward to.
As for my current situation: God closed all doors when I applied for jobs at other companies and I had the feeling that he wants me to stay where I am currently at. So when I received one negative reply after another I was less sad and down that I would have been if I did not make this positive experience about God’s faithfulness a couple of years ago.
But if we find ourselves in a situation, where emotions overflow us and shake up our lives and make us maybe question ourselves. We have the opportunity to find a quiet place, pour out our heart in front of the Lord and tell him how we feel. After that we have the option to be quiet in front of him and let ourselves be reminded of who he is: The Lord of Heaven’s armies, the creator of heaven and earth. The one who calls himself the beginning and end. The eternal God of all, who loves us so dearly that he did not even spare his own son. His holy spirit gives us rest and peace and lets us know, that it is out of God’s love for us that we are alive. And let us ask him to pour out his holy sprit upon us, so we will be able to become more like Christ, so the people around us are able to see God’s love for them through us. And this is my identity in him.