Originally published Monday, 19 May 2014.
It takes a while to learn a new identity, especially if it comes as a surprise.
You must give yourself permission to transition.
I wanted to say a BIG THANKS for all those who prayed for my family this past week because of the San Diego wildfires. Speaking about a forced transition, it's been very much touch and go for my in laws. We're still asking for prayer for their home, and ask for your continued prayers.
I was at least able to get away on Saturday while Marc watched all the animals, and go for a 5k run with my good friend Kathy. We had registered for the Run or Dye event a l-o-n-g time ago before the fires happened. Unfortunately, Kathy had to be evacuated but not for too long. My in-laws however, are still waiting for the orders to be lifted so they can go back home and start the cleaning process. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the #runordye event -- my most favorite 5k run yet!
This past week I had the privilege of talking about my new book, Dream Devotional, on Believe.com and ChristianMingle on learning a new identity. Read below:
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” —Proverbs 31:25
Marriage is the last place I thought I would experience an identity crisis of sorts. For years I prayed to be married. I even wrote two books on dating and relationships (Not Another Dating Book and Loves Me Not). When God brought my husband into my life I literally had to change my single mindset.
My mentality for over 12 years was a bit jaded. I had become so independent that I wasn’t sure there was such a thing as a happy ending. Like me, have you ever believed one thing for so long that you started to live it? That’s how I felt when I got married. I was so used to being by myself that it took the first two years of my marriage to get comfortable with my new identity. Married. I’m going to let you in on a not-so-little secret. Adjusting to a new normal is never easy.
You see—I fully expected my identity crisis in my early twenties. It was super hard to adjust to going back to college while working full time. My life felt like one big speed bump. I wasn’t prepared how much I would have to s-l-o-w myself down. Pause. Reorganize. It was like that too when I got married. Everything was brand new. Different.
My mentor, Pam Farrel, writes in her book Women of Influence, “Being a woman of influence is a matter of finding the right hat, then walking like it’s supposed to be there!” If God has promised good works for us that He created in advance for us then it’s okay to learn a new identity (Ephesians 2:10). Today’s passage from Proverbs rocks. It reminds me, whenever I get too serious about who I am and where I’m going with my life—I need to laugh. -- See more at: http://www.believe.com/articles/Learning-a-New-Identity/.
Listen to my video on ChristianMingle on learning a new identity here.
+ NEW Article: Ask God to Change Your Name via Believe.com.
+ NEW Article: Are You Chasing The Next Big Thing via Believe.com.
+ NEW Video: Is Something Missing From Your Life? via ChristianMingle
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