5 Lies Of Mistaken Identity

This week I’ve been discussing the often difficult task of really getting to know yourself. Yes, digging through the crap that’s been piled up year after year and lies that have been told time and time again, oh, and don’t forget all the hurts, pains, and defensive walls you’ve put up. And somewhere in the middle of it all you find you.

So far I’ve asked 3 questions:

How do I deal with the reality of who I am?
Who do people think I am?
Who do I think I am?

Today, I want to take a different approach and list a few of the lies that many of us hear and most of us believe. Read’em. Own’em. Take a good look inward and ask yourself, “Do I believe that?” Whatever you do, do not take this as an opportunity to point your finger at someone else or else you’ll miss the whole point.

These are lies I’ve believed.
These are lies I’ve struggled with.
These are lies I’ve overcome (and so can you!).

#1 Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid—Lie! Well, at least in terms of keeping secrets and holding on to past hurts, this is a major lie! This is the lie that keeps you stuck in the past. This is the lie that breeds the “It’ll go with me to the grave” mentality. Pastor Rick Warren often says, “You’re only as sick as your secrets.” It’s true! If you’re unwilling to FACE IT, you’re never going to GET OVER IT. If you’re unwilling to CONFESS IT, you’ll remain CONFINED TO IT. If you want to be released from the pain of your past, you’ve gotta share it with someone you trust.

#2 Nobody Understands—Lie! In our sickness, in our denial, we convince ourselves that no one and we mean no one could possibly understand what we’ve gone through. Nobody can relate to the physical/ emotional/ sexual abuse I endured. Nobody understands the pain of my addiction or the lengths I went to in order to satisfy it. Nobody understands. Nobody gets it. Nobody…wants to hear your EXCUSES! How about that? Here’s the deal, once you’ve allowed yourself to get to this point, once you’ve convinced yourself that nobody could possibly understand, you’ve contracted the disease known as TERMINAL UNIQUENESS. The only cure is to open up and share your hurts.

#3 If They Knew The Real Me, They Wouldn’t Like Me—Lie! Chances are people WANT to know the REAL you because the fake you sucks! People are tired of your lies. People are tired of your games. People are tired of your show. However, in our sickness, our perspective is skewed. We don’t see their desire to KNOW US; instead we see indignation and judgment. We become imprisoned by our own insecurities. We cannot base our health on the opinions of others. Chances are they are dealing with their OWN insecurities, their OWN denial. You cannot control them, but you CAN work on yourself. Open up. Be real. Live free.

#4 I’m A (Insert Past Mistake Here)—Lie! I’ve heard this one many times. In fact, I’ve said this one many times. I used to identify myself by my struggles, by the pain of my past, by the hurts that others have caused in my life. I allowed guilt and shame to rule my life and guide my every step with these lies. This is the struggle of finding your identity. As long as you identify yourself with a hurt, pain, past mistake, or struggle…that’s who you’ll be. I don’t know about you, but I want something MORE.

#5 I’ll Never Change—LIE! I was an alcoholic. I was an addict. I was the victim of sexual abuse. I was…I was…I was… What a POWERFUL word! WAS! The Bible tells us that IN Christ was are a NEW CREATION! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new, (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). I’m NOT my past mistakes. I’m NOT my bad decisions. I’m NOT a victim! I spent nearly 30 years believing these lies. I spent nearly 30 years believing I couldn’t change. I spent nearly 30 years without the hope of a brighter tomorrow. In Christ I found the courage to face my past and the strength to overcome it.

Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a Christ-centered recovery program that is specifically designed to address these lies by exploring the TRUTH of God's word. CR meets in a large group, learning from various lessons and hearing stories of personal victory. CR gathers in small groups, sharing hurts, struggles, as well as victories in an open, honest, and safe environment.

At Celebrate Recovery people are discovery WHO they are.
At Celebrate Recovery people are changing.
At Celebrate Recovery people are being SET FREE!