FMF Lost, God, Identity, Uncategorized

Lost: Lost and Found

Jeanne Takenaka


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By Jeanne Takenaka

My Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—Lost. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out Lisa-Jo Baker‘s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

 

For years I clung to my insecurity. Convinced that if I just said the right words, did the right thing, I would find acceptance in the minds and hearts of those who mattered to me.

I determined to find my way into acceptance by people I thought were important. I overlooked those who seemed to be insignificant. I yearned to be known, not realizing that I too lived among the insignificant.

It took the Lord revealing a gaping wound in my own heart to bring me to a place of realizing that I was lost.

Lost in the maze of striving for acceptance.

Lost in the lies that I had to be a certain way to become known by those around me.

Lost in a veneer of who I really was.

As I grappled with the wound in my heart called rejection, I saw that I had lost parts of myself in pursuit of acceptance. In pursuit of significance.

Allowing Jesus to spread his salve over my wound, I began to see that I needed to lose the devices I used for being accepted. I began to lose the need to say just the right thing. The need to be super woman.

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I lost the craving to be known only by certain people.

I found that Jesus could meet me in that place of emptiness and fill me with Him. He helped me see my identity as one of His girls. And not only that, I found out how much He cherishes me, and each of his children.

Losing what I thought I needed to have a certain identity and finding what it meant to be identified in Him? That was something worth losing that led to a satisfying discovery.

What about you? What have you lost that led to a worthwhile find?

Lisa-Jo Baker Five Minute Friday—Lost

Published by Jeanne Takenaka

Award winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days.

10 thoughts on “Lost: Lost and Found”

  1. Loved your post. It is something we are all told to do, but I feel few of us actually do– find our true identity in Him. Loved your image of “being lost in a veneer of who I really was.” Excellent!

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  2. This is really a story that belongs to all of us, and you said it so encouragingly (is that a word?) I think at different seasons in our lives we all struggle with different identities — I think I’m on my third life and I’ve finally realized who really matters — Jesus. I wish I’d figured it out earlier! Good words!

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    1. I think you’re right. We deal with various levels of our identity as we face different situations in our lives. When we remember Whose we are, it makes the identity discovery easier. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  4. Jeanne eventhough I’m not able to read every 5-minute Fridays, when I do it seems its just what I need to read at that moment. Thanks for writing and sharing what the Lord has put on your heart. What an inspiration you are

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  5. “Lost in the maze of striving for acceptance.” I used to be there, too. It is so freeing to realize that we find our identity in Christ. Loved your post.

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