The Fake ID That’s Keeping You Stuck
Are You Living With a Fake Identity?
In the 80s, everyone wanted a fake ID. It was a way to convince others that you were something you weren’t—older, more qualified, more capable. But what if I told you that many of us are still chasing fake IDs today—not plastic cards, but false identities that define how we see ourselves?
We live in a world where we are constantly trying to prove ourselves—to God, to others, and even to ourselves. Whether it’s through performance, perfectionism, or people’s opinions, we craft a version of ourselves that we hope will be enough.
But deep down, we know something’s off. Because when life gets hard, when the storms come, a fake ID won’t hold up. It crumbles under pressure.
Three Fake Identities We Chase
Performance-Based Identity: If I do more, I’ll be accepted. We tie our worth to our work, believing that if we achieve enough, we will be enough. But performance-driven living leads to burnout, constant busyness, and an endless chase after the next goal.
Perfectionism: If I do everything right, I’ll be loved. Perfectionism breeds pride when we succeed and shame when we fail. It causes us to live in fear, terrified of making mistakes, yet exhausted from the pressure to be flawless.
People’s Opinions: If others approve of me, I must be valuable. When we live for the approval of others, we become slaves to their expectations. One day we’re celebrated; the next, we’re forgotten. The constant need for affirmation leaves us thirsty, desperate for validation.
The Truth About Identity
The good news is that our identity is not something we achieve—it’s something we receive. In Luke 3, when Jesus was baptized, He hadn’t yet performed a single miracle. And yet, God declared, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Before Jesus did anything, His identity was already secure.
What if we stopped striving and simply received the truth about who we are in Christ?
You are not what you do.
You are not your mistakes.
You are not what others say about you.
You are God’s beloved.
It’s time to throw away the fake ID and step into the identity that will withstand every storm.