Who I Truly Am - Parenting to Impress

A few years ago, my daughter came to me with a statement that stopped me in my tracks. Sweet Pea, who was 13 at the time, looked at me and confidently said she was a follower, not a leader. When I asked how she knew that, she shrugged and said, “Because my friends told me I am.”

I remember taking a long, slow breath. Those simple words revealed so much—she had quietly handed her identity over to the opinions of others. Her choices were starting to reflect what her friends said about her rather than what God said about her. While plenty of people truly are natural followers, that wasn’t Sweet Pea. Not even close.

That moment was the beginning of a journey for both of us.

Truth from the Scriptures

We watched the movie Overcomer together, and it opened the door to conversations about identity—real, Bible-grounded identity. Sweet Pea dug into Ephesians 1 and 2 and began collecting other Scriptures that told her the truth about who she is in Christ.

Here are a few of the verses she clung to:

In Christ, I am a new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Christ, I was created for good works.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

In Christ, I am a daughter of the King.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12a

In Christ, I am forgiven.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7

In Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. Ephesians 1:4

In Christ, I have the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

In Christ, I have all I need.

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

In Christ, I am no longer a slave to sin.

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved. Romans 6:5

In Christ, I am loved.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Posting Truth to See

A few days later, I walked into her room and stopped at the doorway. On her wall were hand-made posters containing truths from Scripture written in her own handwriting, declaring who she truly is. It was one of those mom-moments when you feel both humbled and grateful.

And honestly? Identity isn’t just a teenage struggle. Even as an adult, I have moments when I forget who God says I am and start absorbing labels from the social media, from side comments, or from my own self-doubt. Maybe you’ve been there too.

If you’re wrestling with the question Who am I?, I encourage you to sit with Ephesians 1 and 2 and the verses above. Write down every truth God speaks over you. Post them where you’ll see them—on the mirror, inside your Be Intentional Planner, beside the sink, wherever you need the reminder.

And when the enemy whispers lies, meet them with truth.

The Glorious Image of God

For younger children, books can be a wonderful way to help them understand their purpose. The new book The Glorious Image of God by Rousseaux Brasseur helps a child understand God’s plan for the world, Jesus’ purpose, and the calling we each have to reflect God’s image. While the text may be too heavy for a preschooler, the illustrations are amazing, filled with beautiful emotions and imagery. You can purchase this book here.