This past weekend, our middle and high school teens faced the topic of “Born Identity” at our annual youth Winter Retreat in Pennsylvania. Our friends from Potomac Baptist Church brought some teens and joined us this year as well. Throughout the weekend we wrestled with our identity, particularly addressing the importance for it to be rooted and grounded in Christ. Our speaker Mike Reed, an alumni of RBC’s youth group and former youth pastor at McLean Bible Church, brought the Word to us each morning and evening, and allowed us to discover more of who Jesus really is.

We challenged students to look at all the things in their life that they give a priority to, and identify one that they lean on – one that they really depend on to find their greatest identity. Many students said their identity is in success in school or sports, appearance, and relationships with others. All of these things can be good things, but as parents and Christian leaders, we have to constantly remind our students that what God says about them is more important then any pressure or affection this world has to offer, whether it is good or not.

Mike Reed made some relevant and practical points regarding the fact that most of us decide what we’re going to believe based on what we desire. We believe the things about God that make Him seem more attractive to us and to our friends and family instead of believing all of the things about Him that are true. We often see the affections of the world as so much better than what Christ has to offer. Who Christ says we are is rarely more attractive to us than the short-term satisfaction that the world gives. We think we need all of these other things that look more appealing than Christ’s forgiveness and grace. But Mike’s argument was that our deepest need is to be forgiven of our sin, and we cannot let anyone tell us otherwise!

I was encouraged this week to see many students responding to Mike’s messages and to the Lord’s speaking to their hearts. One student began to realize God’s sovereign purpose for her life, another realized parts of her life she had been holding back for months that she needed to let go of, others realized their need to trust the Lord with their life, and still others found a new passion to be bold with their faith at school. It is always unique to see the Lord working in so many lives in so many different ways, but the thing that most encourages me is this: watching the Lord use me in ways I never knew I could be used. I left the weekend singing the lyrics to the worship song “Our God” repeatedly to the Lord in my head. I was reminded of just how much “Our God is GREATER, our God is STRONGER. God, You are HIGHER than any other.” Our God really is GREATER than any other worldly affection.

Our final prayer is this: that the Truth our students heard this weekend would be liberating, and not enslaving. We pray that this Truth would echo over and over their open ears in the weeks to come. Lastly, we pray that our students would begin to live authentically, recognizing where they’re at with their personal identities, and seek to love and trust Him with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Pray with us for them.

(The video above served as a session intro to the 2012 Youth Winter Retreat, which dealt with the topic of identity. Here, you’ll see examples of where many students find their identities.)