“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

If you’re not sure who you really are, then you can be manipulated and molded by the pressures, problems, and people around you—and that leads to stress!

Our culture is constantly trying to fit you into its mold. When you have a confused and unclear identity, when you don’t really know who you are, it makes you more vulnerable to the culture’s influence. Until you settle in your mind that God loves you unconditionally and that you’re a child of his, you’re going to be prone to stress.

Jesus never had any doubts about his identity. In fact, 18 times in Scripture he publicly declared who he was. These are called his “I am” statements: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12 NLT). “I am the Son of God” (John 10:36 NLT). “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 NLT). “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35 NLT). Jesus made it clear that he knew exactly who he was.

In John 8:18, Jesus said, “I testify on my own behalf” (GNT). He didn’t need other people to tell him who he was. He didn’t look to others for validation.

When you depend on other people’s opinions for validation, you can’t be resilient to stress. Because if you don’t know who you are, then other people will decide it for you. They’ll force you into a mold, and you’ll get stressed out trying to be someone you’re not. You’ll end up pretending and wearing a mask. It will wear you out!

Jesus knew he was the light of the world. And he also told his followers: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14 NLT). As you follow him, you reflect his light to others. Do you realize how special you are? Not because of what other people say but because of what God says. There’s nobody in the world exactly like you. 

You must accept the truth about you—your strengths along with your limitations and weaknesses. God made you with all of those things, and he has given you everything you need to do his will.

When you accept that, you’ll be secure in your identity and a lot less stressed.