We’re often encouraged to pursue our passions, those deep desires God has placed in our heart. And there is wisdom here. But there’s also an assumption of identity. We need some sense of who we are to know how to best interpret our desires. Our desires are prone to be ambiguous or otherwise disordered without this solid sense of identity first.
To be sure, we can see this with our base sexual desires. While we often take these concrete desires for granted, they’re not merely stirred in a vacuum. Rather they flow from some basic sense of being embodied males. Our desires are shaped by the foundation of our masculine identity. We know who we are. And from this core being we can then start to fantasize or cast a vision for things we want to do.
It seems this same principle would play out in the rest of our life as well. For instance, throughout Scripture, from Abraham and Israel to Peter and Paul, we see how new names often signify a shift in divine purpose. One must embrace who he is in God before fully stepping into what he has been called to. Even Jesus was affirmed as the Father’s beloved son before entering into his public ministry.
And perhaps sonship also is where this starts for us. How would our desires and sense of calling change if we fully embraced our identity as God’s true sons? This would bring much freedom, clarity, and purpose to those deep movements of our heart. Or it might be clear that God has already named us as Warrior, Teacher, Leader, Artist, or the like. And this identity then shapes how we understand ourselves, and our place in God’s larger story.
Whatever it looks like, we frustrate ourselves when our desires are not rooted in identity. Of course, much will still be discovered on the way. But knowing who we are is the first step in properly discerning our desires and then knowing how to best offer our strength.
In the end, take time to remember who God has called you to be. This gives you the needed framework to best channel your desires and bring more life and goodness to others.
