Title: The Well of Identity
Navigate with Tim Austin, Season 5, Ep. 57
Intro:
Welcome back to another episode of "Navigate," a podcast designed to help take the guesswork out of transition. I'm your host Tim Austin, and today, we will be reflecting on one of the main ways we stay grounded and purposeful in transitions seasons. By staying plugged into the Source, we can discover and embrace our true identities and live with greater purpose and fulfillment, even through the uncertainty and ambiguity of change. And that’s good news! So let’s dive in…
Body:
“When can I meet with God?” was a cry of the sons of Korah in Psalm 42. I can guarantee the songwriter wasn’t looking at his watch when he penned those words. He was reflecting on the condition of his soul.
How do you sustain and nourish your own soul while trying to reach both personal and professional goals? The balance between being and doing is a delicate one. But one thing we know for sure: meeting with God is the source fruitful undertaking.
Our life purpose is grounded in relationship, and a healthy identity is rooted in it. However, in transition we can succumb to what I call identity amnesia; we forget who we are at the core.
My personal experience living and working cross-culturally has highlighted this…
My early years in Central Asia were heavily focused on tangible results. I thought I was fulfilling my purpose by doing things for God. My sense of identity was connected mostly to the work I was doing. My identity somewhat unraveled when I transitioned because the “assignment” was terminated. And if I didn’t have these roles and the assignment that with them, who was I and what was my purpose? Shortly after the transition, I searched for ways to regain a sense of purpose through other areas of focus, such as coaching, pastoring, podcasting, and writing. Ultimately I failed, and a perceived loss of identity coupled with a desire to re-align with what really mattered, motivated me to pursue more of a “with God” posture, something author Skye Jethani talks about in his book With (a good read by the way). I desperately needed to focus on sustainability and the long game rather than productivity and checking things off the list. I needed rhythms and routines which grounded me in my true identity. Purposeful doing could then flow out of that. That’s the journey I’m still navigating.
Don’t get me wrong. Purposeful work is part of our callings, but certainly not the foundation. The bedrock is relationship, embodied in this cry:
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” – Psalms 42:2
And so my prayer has become, “Lord may I prioritize meeting with You over and above my assignment for You. May what I do flow out a well of identity and purpose grounded in this relationship.
Skye continues to make his point…
“He (the Apostle Paul) understood that his calling (to be a messenger to the Gentiles) was not the same as his treasure (to be united with Christ). His communion with Christ rooted and preceded his work for him.”
– With, Reimagining the Way you Relate to God, Skye Jethani
Digging Wells
One function in transition is to partner with God in order to create an environment or an eco-system if you will of sustainability. We combat identity amnesia with routines and rhythms that remind us who we are. We refuse to let transition rob us of a grounded sense of self. We tap into new and improved sources; we dig new wells.
The Message version of Psalm 42:1-3 is a great launching point for reflection…
“A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it— arrive and drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears— tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?””
- Psalms 42:1-3
Noticing the deep longing of the psalmist. Think of a time when you were extremely parched. How desperate did you feel for a drink? Have you ever felt that desperate for God? Describe the intense longing.
Isaac was a well digger (Genesis 26). His survival depended on it wherever he went. If one dried up he dug another.
What are some wells which have dried up for you, and why? Could this actually be a gift and invitation to create new wells to sustain you moving forward?
How and where could you dig some new wells in this season of transition…wells that lend themselves to deeper encounters with God and a grounding in your true identity?
Outro:
Transitions have a way of messing with our sense of identity, purpose and calling. At the same time transition can be a wonderful opportunity to re-orient ourselves to what really matters. Working with a transitions coach can help you process and prioritize toward a successful transition.
The current season is perfect for setting aside time to discern and discover the new things taking shape in our heads and hearts. To engage a process of shedding the lies and embracing the truth about ourselves and God. As a helpful tool to gain clarity, you can download our free Discernment Guide. Just head over to the show notes and you’ll find the link there. Then, carve out some quiet space to sit with the questions: What's the new you're being invited into?
That's all for today's episode of "Navigate". Thank you for joining us on this journey of embracing change with fresh eyes of intentionality. If you’ve enjoyed listening, can I encourage you to take a minute and leave a rating or review on your favorite listening platform? That would really help.
If you’d like to learn more about the coaching services I offer, head over to encompasslifecoaching.com and then book your complementary discovery call with. Let’s have a conversation! I’ll catch you next time.