Esther 2:7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.
Unexpected loss or death can mar a person’s identity and significantly affect their self-worth. The sudden loss of a central figure of influence can result in significant identity confusion. Esther lost her parents at a very young age. Some Bible scholars say that she lost her father during her mother’s pregnancy and her mother died at childbirth. She was adopted and brought up by her cousin Mordecai and his family. Esther was hit not only with the orphan mentality; they were also exiles in a foreign land. The identity of exiles is butchered due to forced displacement to another country and culture. They would grapple with the loss of their home, ethnicity, social expectations and religious practices. The children born in exile would grow up without a sense of belonging and with deformed identity.
Esther was a timid slave girl who was trembling under the royal garments as the Queen of Persia. She was terrified to go to the king to make a petition for her people. Yet, when she turned to the Lord in fasting and prayer, the tapestry of her soul was clothed with boldness as she put on her royal garments. The only way to overcome the damage done to identity is to turn to Christ.
Overcoming Confused Identity:
1. Slave: Loss, mistreatment or childhood trauma can damage a person’s identity. You are not a slave but a son and daughter of the King of kings.
2. Self-worth: Words spoken over a child or teenager or childhood abuse can destroy a person’s self-worth. Such people would try to scramble their self-worth with success or popularity. Fame and flamboyance would fade away. We are special just the way we are.
3. Saint: A forgiven sinner is a saint. People with confused identity struggle to accept their status in Christ as a “saved saint”.
We are priceless in the eyes of God. We don’t have to prove our worth to Him.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to overcome the damage done to my identity as a child and see my worth and value in you. Amen.
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