What do you think these stories have in common:

• Elijah tries to uphold God’s laws to unrighteous kings and ends up running for his life, deathly terrified (1 Kings 19).
• Jonah becomes angry when God decides not to punish Nineveh, angry enough that he feels like he’d rather die than go on living (Jonah 4).
• Job is so devastated by all the calamities that happened to him in a short time that he wonders why God allowed him to be born (Job 3).

They might not seem very related or similar, but take a look at how God responds.

First, God reveals Himself; He reassures these men that He is near. All three pray to God in their distress and the voice of the Lord responds to each one. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us, “…for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Second, He reminds them that He has a purpose for them. They are all questioning their purpose. They are feeling intense doubt about where they are in life and what is happening to them. It seems like their efforts have failed and they don’t know why, or that God has forgotten about them. But He reminds them that He is in control and that there is a purpose behind what’s going on, even when they can’t see it.

In times of big transition and transformation, it’s easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed, even full of despair. That’s because some of your identity can seem tied to the big things that are happening. For example, maybe you feel valuable partly because of how athletic you are and how much you contribute to your team, but then a big injury happens and you’re out of that realm for a while. Or you might feel like a big part of your identity is your musical ability, but you haven’t been asked to do special music since your last performance. Maybe you felt more grown up after you got a part-time job, but then you made a big blunder and were let go. Maybe you’ve felt your life upended after someone who supported and loved you suddenly died.

When you find yourself in those moments, be reminded of how God responds. Even when we go through things that shake us to our core, He is there. And He has a purpose for us that can never be shattered by anything that happens in this life. What truly defines your identity comes from God.

Let’s look at a few areas that tend to affect our sense of identity and the corresponding truth from God.that He wants you to move forward in faith.

What does define you: God’s plan for you

What God is doing cannot be thwarted by anything that humans do. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This verse doesn’t mean that we won’t go through hard things. But it does mean that in the ultimate sense, God is in control and He wants to bless us. You have a future, a purpose and a role.

1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” God knows we are works in progress. And that work continues for our entire lives.

There may be things we go through that rock us to our core, and make us question our purpose on earth, our value. But there is nothing that can upend God’s plan, or that He can’t work together for His good purpose. You will always have value and purpose within that plan.

What doesn’t define you: Your Successes

Your failures don’t define you, but neither do your successes. This might sound funny, but separating your success from your sense of identity can also be freeing. God loves when we succeed, but we don’t need to feel so anxious or timid that we do anything to avoid failure. We can be bold and confident in the knowledge that our worth and identity goes beyond physical success in this life. It’s ultimately up to God whether we succeed or fail, and either one can teach us important things. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Sometimes success can make us rely more on ourselves and forget about God. Keeping in mind that our identity is not defined by our own efforts can help. Psalm 103:2-5 reminds us, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” (New Living Translation).

What does define you: God’s love for you

No matter what happens to you or what you do, you always have value because God loves you. His love is unconditional and personal. He wants you specifically to be in His family; that’s why He created you. 1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.”

If anyone decides to continually or habitually sin without repentance, the Bible does tell us that sin creates a distance between us and God (Isaiah 59:2). But He is always open to our repentance and working to draw us toward Him and recover that closeness (Ezekiel 33:11).

Romans 8:38-39 assures us, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What doesn’t define you: Your physical elements

As physical beings, our bodies are important to the sense of self. That can mean that mental health struggles, illness and physical injuries may feel particularly tough to handle. In high school I got hit in the face by a softball during practice one Friday and ended up with a swollen and bloody lip. I went to Church that Sabbath but was so embarrassed about how I looked that I found it difficult to even talk to anyone. Even something as small as that got in the way of my ability to fellowship, and my focus that day was definitely more on myself than on God.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten a bit less self-conscious, thankfully, but there are still plenty of ways physical cares can get in the way of the things that are really important. Remembering not only that God can heal but also that He has a plan for a future, when all our physical imperfections will disappear, can help us be less worried about the physical now.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

Any physical relationship status is also not a defining factor for your true identity. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend or eventually getting married isn’t a measure of your value. There can be blessings that come from a close, godly relationship, but you can also learn things and experience life being single. It’s never another person who completes or defines you. What we need to be complete is God’s Spirit.

What does define you: Your spiritual elements

Since we have a part in His plan, our spiritual growth matters. Our spiritual character isn’t dependent on our physical strength or beauty, what job we end up getting or how successful we are in school. No matter what happens, whether we succeed or fail, God can teach us things and we can grow and mature spiritually and emotionally.

Colossians 3:12-14 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

When anything happens in life that unsettles your sense of identity or makes you question your value or purpose, be reminded where your true value comes from. God is there with a purpose for you, although it may be hard to see at the time.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes, “We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making Him proud of you as you work hard in His orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us” (Colossians 1:10-12 The Message).

Rest assured that God is with you and watching over you. He has a plan that involves you and isn’t limited by your current state. He sees your potential and wants to help you live a fulfilling, free, abundant life both now and even more as part of His family in His Kingdom.