What Defines Me?

Max Lucado, in Come Thirsty reminds us of the story of Mephibosheth. I would think that his name alone would define him but, no, he was called a cripple, because he was dropped as a child and forever crippled.
Lucado writes, ”Acquainted with its street? If you’ve been dropped, you are. Dropped from the list, dropped by a guy, dropped by the team, dropped off at an orphanage . . . people don’t remember your name, but they remember your pain.”
As the story goes, David (the king) wants to show mercy to someone of the house of Saul and finds out that Mephibosheth is the only living relative. Lucado describes what happens, as something “Cinderella-like." Mephibosheth gets invited to live with the king and eat at his table, like one of David’s own sons!

If I would only remember that this is what has happened to me! I have been invited to feast at the King’s table. I need no longer be what I or others label me as . . . whatever it is that connects me to some bad decision or misfortune. God has seated me with Him in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 2:6) He can turn whatever misfortune labels me into something good and in turn, that is what defines me. The woman who struggled with self esteem because of an accent, can use her empathy to help others who are learning the language or that are new to a group. If I’d never felt “different” from others, rejected, judged or learned how hard it can be to please others . . . I would not be able to understand those who have those kind of feelings. But God, by His grace, is teaching me that He can use everything in my life for something good. The wonderful news is that God loves me how I am and I don’t need to earn His favor. When I give my weakness or misfortune to Him, He can turn it into something beautiful! That is what I wish to define me.
I think it would look like someone defined by grace. . . because she knows she's loved.

Now, I may even enjoy wallowing in my self pity. I may want to have an excuse to keep me from moving on. This is where my choice will determine what defines me. I may be afraid to trust God to make something beautiful, but the truth is, that if I accept His invitation, if I come to Him . . . He’s the One who can turn ashes into beauty.