By Warner May
My self-image also has to do with faith.
I am amazed at what I was forced to recognise as an untruth in my self-image decades later, even though it had accompanied and guided me for years.
Until the age of 30, I believed that I was unmusical and avoided all situations where this could have become apparent.
It was only after my change of faith, when I simply sang along in worship because it was more important to me than anything else to praise and glorify God, that I discovered that singing was good for me and that I was normally musical.
At the age of 10 I had to realise, often very painfully, that my grades in English lessons usually consisted of the two worst grades and for the following 50 years I was convinced (= believed) that I was not gifted in foreign languages. What a load of rubbish, all that was missing was practice, encouragement and experience in English-speaking countries. Today I have regained an innocence to simply speak or teach in English, with mistakes of course. But why not?
We are allowed to shed misbeliefs and be given new faith in the various identity issues.
Natural Authority: I am a Human Being
If I hold up a pen and then drop it, I am able to catch it again with the same hand. Simple, right? Yes, but unique. First of all, my natural authority: I decide to drop the pen and then catch it again. Only humans can do that! And catching the pen again is actually a great achievement, even though most people can do it.
Who do I think man is and therefore who am I? Man is made a little lower than God (Psalm 8). Do I believe that?
Individual Authority: My Uniqueness
I am the only person on this earth with my outward appearance, my inner self, my life story. Nobody can act like me, even if similar, but never identical. I am unique. Do I believe that?
Factual Authority: My Competences
Yes, I am limited in what I can do. It’s easy for me to list a lot of things. But I can also do certain things that no-one else in the world can do, and I have many skills like others that I can use to make a difference and whose combination is sometimes unique. I am competent, I can make a difference. Do I believe that?
Status Authority: My Positions
I also have authority because I occupy a certain position, sometimes privileges (I a car parking space in the employees’ car park behind our office building), sometimes responsibility (as head of department, I decide whether or not to grant leave). My position in life (professional, family, social) has consequences. Do I believe that?
Relationship Authority: People Who are Part of My Life
I am not only unique, I am also connected to many others. That’s how it should be. And these relationships shape my life and I help shape them, also thanks to these relationships. Do I believe that?
Spiritual Authority: God Stands By Me
And through my connection with the triune God, my identity and my person are fundamentally renewed. I receive prayer authority. When I pray, something happens! Do I believe that?
I am blessed and will bear abundant fruit where I do something with trust in God’s will. Do I believe that?
And streams of living water flow from me, even if I don’t realise it. Do I believe that?
Questions to consider:
- How have false beliefs about your abilities or identity held you back in your life, and what would it take to challenge and shed those misbeliefs?
- In what ways do you exercise your different forms of authority (natural, individual, factual, status, relationship, and spiritual) in your daily life, and which areas do you find most difficult to fully believe in or embrace?
- What role does faith play in shaping your self-image, and how might recognizing God’s perspective on your identity change the way you see your worth, capabilities, and purpose?
Werner May, a German psychologist, served as the Chair of the IGNIS Academy for Christian Psychology in Kitzingen, Germany, from 1986 to 2012. During his tenure, he was instrumental in managing the academy and spearheading projects in Christian psychology. His teaching on the fundamental aspects of Christian psychology and counseling has reached diverse Christian communities and denominations, both nationally and internationally. A central focus of his ministry has been promoting unity within the body of Christ through the development of Christian psychology. For more information, visit the IGNIS Academy.
