Hey Gardners! I hope you are having a fantastic month and working towards everything your heart desires. I’ve had several conversations surrounding identity and want to share my thoughts with you—come with me.

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“Who am I?”

We’ve seen this question since kindergarten, I am sure. You state your name, favorite color, food, etc.—it seems like life was so much easier back then, right? Now, if someone asks me to describe myself, I cringe so much! But what if my identity isn’t wrapped up in me at all? What if it’s wrapped up in Christ?

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“Keep living…”

When Granny would tell me that, I used to feel like she did not hear a word I said. LOL! I would be in my feelings thinking, “I need her to listen to me! It is hard out here. I feel like no one sees me, I feel like a doormat, and I feel so lost and unsure of who I am.” Now, at thirty-two, I understand exactly what Granny wanted me to do. She wanted me to calm down—for one😂, and two—stop getting caught up in the distractions that tend to cloud our judgment and, ultimately, our Christian identity.

Growing up, so much of my identity was impacted by things that weren’t mine. That’s sad when I say it out loud, but it’s true. So much of who I thought I was had nothing to do with who God created me to be. Reactions to situations and experiences flash before me, and I thank God for His ability to rewrite my story. I thank Him for telling me, “Eyes on me, Tori, I know what I’m doing.” He is constantly changing my heart, words, and actions, and it amazes me how things that used to bother me have no bearing on how I live my life now.

“You were made for more.”

In my opinion, that is often the most challenging truth to accept—being made for more. How do I know that? I’ll tell you how God said it. He said it in His word. God never meant for us to struggle with our identity. He never wanted us to wonder and search for answers in all the wrong places and ways. I’m so thankful that He never stopped keeping me. When I started Garden of Growth, I told you that I did not have all the answers and that I was a writer who thought maybe my words could help someone else. Starting GoG has shown me part of my identity in Christ. I want people to be confident, self-sufficient, and just amazing.

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“Is that it?”

Nope! We will dive into identity and what it means to understand identity through Christ. I’ll be back with more on better understanding our identity in Christ. We are going to do this together—as a family. I love you! 😘

Take Care,

ToriB💕🌻