As many of you know from past posts, I have endured intense trauma in my life—belittlement, isolation, abandonment, stolen innocence, being ignored, and oppression. So how can a person who has gone through so much trauma be used to encourage others, be set apart, and fulfill God’s purpose?
I have learned that I am not defined by my trauma, my past experiences, or the labels others try to place on me—not even by my own mistakes. No, I am already defined by the blood of Christ! He says I am enough. He says I am worth His shed blood. He says who He created me to be… It is Christ who gets the last say because He died to give me freedom and the ability to live divinely defined!
While we live in a severely broken, self-obsessed world, where trauma may come at the hands of others’ selfish desires and sins, the perpetrators and the experiences do not define us. Instead, God can use these moments to refine us. He can take what the world meant for evil and meld it into us to be used for good and His glory.
Joseph, from the Bible, experienced some horrible things at the hands of his brothers, that was born out of jealousy and hatred. He was enslaved, mistreated, wrongfully accused, forgotten, imprisoned. But God turned all those things on their heads and used it for His glory by making Joseph the second most powerful man in the world to help save lives from a famine. Joseph didn’t let those things define him, he let God work the impossible and turn it into something good. He also didn’t let those circumstances define him, but allowed God to use those very things to refine him, turning evil on its head!
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 NLT
Just think about it, what was done was meant to demean, minimize, control, and destroy. What if you turn that on its head and use it for good instead? How would that change things for you? How would that change the world around you? How would that change your relationships, your calling, your purpose, your outlook on life?
God desires to transform the trauma, tragedy, and mistakes in our lives into something good—if we allow Him to.
“Lord, guide us into Your goodness every day. Help us to trust in Your transformative power and to see ourselves as You see us—defined by Your love, not by our past. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Take a moment today to ask yourself: Who defines you? Is it your past, your mistakes, or the opinions of others? Or will you allow yourself to be divinely defined by the One who created you, redeemed you, and calls you His own? Choose today to let God transform your trauma into a testimony of His grace and power.
1 thought on “I Choose Today to be Divinely Defined”
I do love the story of Joseph because he was faithful to God even when things around him seemed unfair and impossible. That is my prayer and my heart’s desire…to be faithful to God no matter what comes my way. I know He is good and He has a good plan for me. Sometimes I don’t understand His methods, but I can trust His character.