Rebuild Your Identity and Secure Your Faith in Christ

SHOW NOTES: 

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, I share an excerpt from Step Seven of my new book, Living Perfectly Loved. 

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic” (Isaiah 26:18 NIV).

God will restore us to perfect peace anytime we enter into His presence. However, if every time we leave the safety of our prayer closets we find ourselves stricken with panic, we must then ask ourselves—have I truly learned to rely on Jesus Christ the rock of my salvation as my one sure foundation? To remain free from anxiety and fear and to continue growing in faith, we not only need to prioritize spending consistent time in God’s presence, we must also build our identity and secure our faith in Christ by growing deeply rooted in His love. As believers, the foundation of our faith has already been laid. Now we must learn to rely on it—to trust in God’s unfailing love. 

CONNECT WITH KELLY: I’m your host, Kelly Ann Snyder, a Christian writer, speaker, and teacher. Grateful to God for rescuing me from the grip of anxiety and fear, I created this podcast, started a blog, launched a small group for women at my church, and wrote my first book titled, Living Perfectly Loved, to encourage, equip, and inspire Christian women to live free from fear and full of joy, secure in God’s perfect love. I enjoy fresh flowers, nature walks, decorating my home, sipping tea, and studying God's Word.

Visit my website at kellyannsnyder.com to learn more about me and Living Perfectly Loved Ministries, including information that can help you take the next step forward in your faith journey.

By signing up for my email list today, you’ll get blog and podcast episodes sent directly to your inbox, and be given the opportunity to learn about other Living Perfectly Loved Ministries offerings made available only to my subscribers. Here’s a link to a free resource I created for signing up: 40 Anxiety-Reducing Self-Care Tips for the Weary

You can also purchase my new book on Amazon today: Living Perfectly Loved: A Christian’s 12-Step Journey to Freedom from the Grip of Anxiety and Fear

Find me on my Facebook Page @kellyannsnyderauthor and on my Facebook profile @kellyannsnyderofficial, as well as on my Instagram account @kellyannsnyderofficial. I look forward to connecting with you soon!

DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease. This podcast is not a substitute for consultation with a licensed practitioner. Please consult with your physician or healthcare specialist regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in this podcast. The podcast host makes no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience by following the advice and strategies she has offered, and you accept the risk that results will differ for each individual. The use of this podcast implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.

For additional help or resources, I recommend you consider reaching out to a professional Christian counselor or a pastor at a church for guidance in your next steps. 

Episode Transcript

Kelly Ann Snyder (00:02):
I'm Kelly Ann Snyder.
Welcome to Living PerfectlyLoved, the podcast created to
encourage, equip, and inspireyou to live free from fear and
full of joy, secure in God'sperfect love.
If you're longing to stand firmin Christ amidst the storms of
life with a faith deeply rootedin God's perfect love, stop

(00:25):
anxiety and fear from stealingyour joy and controlling your
life, shine brightly and lovefearlessly, confident in who God
uniquely created and called youto be, then this faith-inspiring
podcast, full of practical helpand spiritual tools, is for you.
You're listening to Season One,Episode Eight, Rebuild your

(00:46):
Identity and Secure Your Faithin Christ, brought to you by
Living Perfectly LovedMinistries and my new book,

Living Perfectly Loved (00:55):
A Christian's 12-Step Journey to
Freedom from the Grip of Anxietyand Fear.
For all recommended resources,products, and freebies discussed
in this episode, please see thenotes for this episode.
I'm happy to announce that ineach episode this season, I will
be sharing an excerpt from mybook containing each of the 12

(01:18):
steps the Lord used to deliverme from the grip of anxiety and
fear.
In this way, you'll be getting asneak peek into my book, Living
Perfectly Loved.
I'm so glad you've decided tojoin me.
Subscribe to my email list todayat kellyandsnyder.com and you
will be kept in the loop withall book and ministry-related

(01:38):
announcements I make, and beeligible to receive all free
resources I create and sharewith my subscribers.
Visit my website atkellyandsnyder.com to learn more
about Living Perfectly LovedMinistries, including direct
links to purchase my book andinformation that can help you
take the next step forward inyour faith journey.

(02:01):
If you haven't yet listened tomy podcast trailer, I'd like to
invite you to do so afterlistening to this episode.
All right, let's get started!The following is an excerpt from
Step Seven of my book, LivingPerfectly Loved, titled, Rebuild
your Identity and Secure YourFaith in Christ: To remain free

(02:26):
from anxiety and fear, we need amature faith, one that will
stand through trials and storms.
Rock solid faith built on asure, eternal foundation.
What if we have placed our hopein something that can be burned
up, used up, broken, or removed.
Or perhaps our faith isdependent upon our own strength

(02:47):
or ability, or that of someoneelse?
If our foundation rests onsomething temporal or of this
world, we will likely findourselves right back where we
started, slaves to anxiety andfear.
With our feet firmly plantedupon Jesus Christ, however, and
with His Word rooted deeply inour hearts, we will not be

(03:09):
shaken.
Before learning the truth ofGod's perfect love for me,
before finding my identity inChrist, I would get up to look
in the mirror each morning andcount the many blemishes and
imperfections I saw staring backat me.
It was frustrating andembarrassing to still be
struggling with acne into mythirties.

(03:30):
No matter how many differentproducts and treatments I'd
tried over the years, Icontinued to battle bad
breakouts.
I pleaded with God to take itaway.
I was tired of fighting it, oftrying to control my problem
skin, but God continued to allowacne to afflict me, despite my
desperate pleas.

(03:50):
In the midst of my frustration,helplessness, and shame, I
couldn't see that who I was inChrist mattered more than
whether or not I had clear skin.
I only saw someone who didn'tmeasure up on the outside.
I'm guessing this is why God didnot make my skin problems go
away.
He couldn't have me believingmyself worth was only skin deep.

(04:13):
Unfortunately, I couldn't let itgo.
As a result, I battledinsecurity for years.
Starting in my teen years, Iturned to makeup in an effort to
conceal the imperfections on myface.
I thought if I could cover up myflaws, people would be more
likely to accept and love me.
With makeup on, I felt confidentand beautiful.

(04:36):
Without it, I felt unworthy andashamed.
It wasn't long after starting towear makeup that I no longer
felt comfortable in publicwithout it.
I began avoiding socialsituations where I couldn't
cover up with makeup, such asthe beach or pool.
I stopped looking people in theeye for fear I would catch them

(04:56):
staring at my broken out skinand feel humiliated.
I didn't realize I wasestablishing a dependency on
makeup.
A dependency that would lead toa fear of letting others see the
real me.
All this striving for perfectionand control opened a door for
pride to grip my heart.
I didn't recognize mypridefullness at first because

(05:17):
it masked itself as anxiety andfear.
But where fear was present in mylife telling me that others
would reject the real me, pridewas not far away.
I was surprised to discover someof the anxiety I was
experiencing was actually apride issue at its core, because
I had never equated insecuritywith pride, but what I

(05:38):
discovered is insecurity isself-focused rather than others
focused.
God began revealing to me thatto gain complete victory over
anxiety and fear, the sin ofpride had to also be removed.
It was wrong for me to build myidentity and self-worth upon
foundation makeup rather thanthe foundation of my faith,

(06:00):
Jesus Christ.
It wasn't until years later onthis journey with the Lord to
overcoming anxiety and fear,that I sensed God calling me to
stop wearing makeup.
He gently revealed to me that itwas time to remove the mask.
I had heard God telling me thisin the past, but I was never
willing to listen to Him.
This time around, I suppose Iwas a little more open, or maybe

(06:23):
a little more desperate forhealing.
I heard God saying,"Stop lettingthe mirror tell you who you are.
Stop believing it's lies.
Let Me tell you who you are inMe.
Don't look to the world, whichsays you don't measure up, which
says you aren't enough.
In Me, you are enough.
For by one sacrifice, I've madeperfect forever those who are

(06:47):
being made holy," Hebrews 10verse 14.
It was time for me to find outwho I really was, to let others
see the real me, and to learn tolove myself.
At first I tried to ignore God'sstill small voice again.
Honestly, I wasn't sure I couldcommit to giving up wearing
makeup completely.

(07:08):
It would feel like I was walkingout my front door, stark naked,
completely exposed.
However, His voice persisted.
It was July 4th, IndependenceDay, when I heard Him say,"Cover
up your bathroom mirror and tapeScripture to it.
Declare your independence frommakeup today! I thought, my
husband is going to think I'mabsolutely crazy.

(07:30):
God, there is no way I canactually do this.
Still, I couldn't shake theconviction I felt in my spirit.
So after mustering up as muchcourage as I could, I told my
husband what I had been thinkingabout doing.
His response took me completelyby surprise,"You've struggled
with this for a long time.
I think it might be a good idea.

(07:51):
You're beautiful with or withoutmakeup." What is sweetheart?
His response was confirmation tome that I wasn't in fact hearing
things, and losing my mind.
God was in this.
Why else would my husband agreeto let me cover up all the
mirrors in the house withplastic table cloths and post
Scripture to keep me fromlooking in the mirror,

(08:12):
criticizing myself, and pickingat my skin.
I mean, come on, seriously?
As much as I didn't want to gothrough with it, I knew I needed
to be obedient to follow God'sleading.
Plus I really wanted to be freefrom my bondage to make up.
Thus, not a drop-off primer,foundation, concealer, mascara,

(08:35):
eyeliner, eye shadow, blush, oreven lip gloss touched my face
for a whole year and a half.
I didn't cheat once, not evenwith a tinted moisturizer,
translucent powder, or clear lipgloss, tempting as it was.
It was difficult to do at first.
I felt very insecure and Ifeared what people might think

(08:57):
or say to me.
God met me in my insecurity,though, and reassured me I was
doing the right thing with thetruth of His Word.
He showed me Isaiah 54, versefour, which says,"Do not be
afraid.
You will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace.
You will not be humiliated."Much to my surprise, I never

(09:18):
once heard a negative remarkabout my appearance the whole
year and a half I fasted frommakeup.
Instead of being shamed andrejected, I experienced
tremendous freedom and healing.
I learned that people didn'tjust love the me who seemingly
had it all together, but thereal me, imperfections and all.
A huge weight was lifted, one Ididn't know I'd been carrying

(09:41):
around with me for far too long.
Unmasked, I learned to receivethe love, acceptance, and
approval that was mine in JesusChrist.
As a result, I grew moreconfident in who I was in Him.
During the time of my makeupfast, I learned to stop letting
the mirror tell me who I was andGod rebuilt my identity and

(10:02):
self-worth upon the surefoundation of Jesus Christ,
according to His Word, notfoundation makeup.
God revealed to me that I wasloved, beautiful, flawless, and
clothed with the perfection ofChrist.
He took away my fear ofrejection with the promise of
His unfailing love, and Heshowed me His plans for my

(10:23):
complete restoration.
Mark Batterson writes in hisbook, Soulprint,"Scripture is
the only perfect mirror becauseit reveals how our designer sees
us.
Most of our identity problemsare the result of looking in the
wrong mirrors." Our worth is notself-made.
It cannot be found in any of thefollowing: our job titles, our

(10:46):
relationships with others, ourparenting skills, our net worth,
our physical appearance, ourlist of accomplishments, the
good works we do, the number ofvolunteer hours we work, the
success of our ministry, or evenhow well-versed we are in
Scripture.
Our worth is found in beingadopted daughters of our

(11:07):
heavenly Father.
It is found in who we become inrelationship with Christ.
Jesus' death on the cross allowsus to proclaim,"I am loved
because Jesus Christ found mewe're dying for.
The end." Right before Jesusbreathed His last breath here on
earth, He declared,"It isfinished," John 19, verse 30.

(11:33):
Therefore, since His death andresurrection are final, and
there is nothing anyone can doto improve upon or add to what
He already accomplished, we haveto start believing that who we
are in Christ is truly enough.
According to the Word of God, weare children of God, Galatians
three verse 26.
Heirs to a kingdom not of thisworld, Romans eight verse 17.

(11:59):
Chain breakers, Isaiah 58 versesix.
The salt of the earth, Matthewfive verse 13.
The light of the world, Matthewfive verse 14.
Chosen, holy, and dearly loved,Colossians three verse 12.
Wonderfully made, Psalm 139verse 14.

(12:21):
Altogether beautiful andflawless, Song of Songs 4 verse
seven.
The bride of Christ, Revelation21 verse nine.
All of this, God says and more.
If our faith is built upon afoundation of false beliefs,
misconceived notions about whoGod is, what He has done for us,

(12:43):
or who we are in relationshipwith Him.
Then we are likely living as anunbelievers on some level,
deprived of the fullness of lifewe could be living in Christ.
For this reason, it is vital werebuild our identities and
secure our faith on the surefoundation of Jesus Christ.
My experience has taught me thatthe primary way this is

(13:06):
accomplished is through thereading and hearing of God's
Word.
Not only will you find peace inHis presence, as we learned in
Step Six, but His truth willpenetrate your heart.
As you allow God's Word to growdeep roots and dwell within you,
you will gain a greaterunderstanding of who God is,
what He's done for you, and whoyou are in Him.

(13:29):
This understanding willconsequently establish your
identity and secure yourfoundation of faith in Christ.
Paul put it this way:"Then byconstantly using your faith, the
life of Christ will be releaseddeep inside you and the resting
place of his love will becomethe very source and root of your
life," Ephesians three verse 17,The Passion Translation.

(13:54):
Then you can begin using yourfaith to step out and take
action as God leads you,confident that His perfect love
can be counted on in all things.
And you will discover as Godestablishes and perfects His
love within you, that fearcannot exist.
It is driven now.
Hallelujah! Matthew seven verse24 through 25 says,"Therefore,

(14:18):
everyone who hears these wordsof mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man whobuilt his house on the rock.
The rain came, the streams rose,and the winds blew and beat
against that house, yet it didnot fall because it had its
foundation on the rock." Let'spray.

(14:39):
Heavenly Father, Thank You forestablishing me on the sure
foundation of Jesus Christ, myrock.
Thank You for Your Word, whichtells me I am a child of God, an
heir to the kingdom, andfearfully and wonderfully made.
At times I struggle to believethat who I am is enough.
Please forgive me when I allowpride to harden my heart,

(15:02):
preventing the seed of Your Wordfrom taking root.
I confess that at times I fearman's opinion more than I fear
You.
Father, forgive me.
Help me remove any masks thatkeep me from being who You
created me to be.
Remove any barrier to Your loveso that I may be able to receive
it, allowing its roots to growdown deep.

(15:25):
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode of the Living Perfectly
Loved podcast.
While it's true that God is loveand we are perfectly loved by
Him, we all struggle at times tolive like this true.
While we should strive to growin Christ likeness, we can rest

(15:46):
in knowing God loves us becauseof who He is, not because of who
we are or anything we could everdo for Him.
In Jesus Christ, we are enough!Remember, you don't have to be
perfect to live perfectly loved.
You have always been and willalways be a completely forgiven,

(16:06):
fully accepted, deeply loved,daughter the King.
Beautiful friend, His grace isfor you.
Please subscribe to my podcastnow and stay tuned for another
episode of Living PerfectlyLoved.
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May He shine His face on you andbe gracious to you.

(16:28):
May He turn His face toward youand give you peace, in Jesus'
name.