“We were trying to find ourselves,” said the aging dad to his adult son in an 80’s sitcom on the television set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remembered trying too. Was I my big sister’s best friend? Someones’ daughter? David’s girlfriend? Am I mother? A wife? A poet? A writer? What am I? Who am I? Looking outside ourselves is a common response for these types of internal wrestlings. Will this person, this relationship, this sexual orientation, this talent, a different wardrobe, job, location, my size, my color, my hairstyle put an end to the distress within me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you feel lost growing up? I know I did. And when I look around today, I see I was no exception. Here’s what Scripture tells us about that deep, restless feeling: it’s real.<\/em> It’s true<\/em>.<\/em> And it\u2019s not only psychological disorders that cause us not to like ourselves. We all fight against this loud shout, “What is my life about?” “There’s got to be something more, something other than what I am.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s good news for us\u2014no, here\u2019s the best news for us all.<\/em> The gospel is the saving answer to these harrowing questions. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.<\/em> The resurrection of Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit is the transformation we’re all looking for.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. In the Hand of the Almighty we become the masterpiece the Potter made us to be in the first place. You can\u2019t recreate yourself. Trust me, I\u2019ve tried. There\u2019s not a makeup, hair color, or any other physical conversion that can stop our soul’s incessant searching. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have been raised in Christ, seek the things that are above. Only by God\u2019s saving grace do we have hope to be<\/em> empowered by the Spirit<\/em> in putting to death what is earthly in us<\/em>: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness\u2014which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. Jesus gives<\/em> the grace to put away anger, malice, slander\u2014against ourselves<\/em> and others<\/em>. The Spirit of God literally becomes the strength we need to quit lying to ourselves and everybody else. Put on the new self, (For you have died, and your life is hidden in Christ with God.) which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Live as God\u2019s chosen one, holy and beloved, in the spirit of your new compassionate heart, in kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving one another, and above all, put on love, which holds everything together in perfect harmony<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let the word of God dwell in you richly, and let the peace of God rule your heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, if there’s anyone reading this who doesn’t know you personally\u2014draw them with Your loving kindness into Your saving grace. For the rest, reset our mind again on what is true, noble, just, loving, pure, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Save us all from the enemy, and the desires of our flesh which only lead to a haunting end. Help us walk in the Spirit for the glory of Your Holy name. Thank you Father, for hearing my prayer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “We were trying to find ourselves,” said the aging dad to his adult son in an 80’s sitcom on the television set. I remembered trying too. Was I my big sister’s best friend? Someones’ daughter? David’s girlfriend? Am I mother? A wife? A poet? A writer? What am I? Who am I? Looking outside ourselves […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143625079,"featured_media":11767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"[]","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10679],"tags":[773157866,409123,773157840,7254658,773157876,520],"class_list":["post-11730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-identity","tag-gospel","tag-identify","tag-love","tag-new-self","tag-salvation","tag-sex"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pacmrQ-33c","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11258,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=11258","url_meta":{"origin":11730,"position":0},"title":"Hope For Your Helpless Heart","author":"Jo Alo","date":"July 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Someone may need reminding today \u2014 that Jesus Christ overcame the grave. Hearts may break, the seat at the table may stay vacant, weeping may endure for a night \u2014 but joy comes for those in Christ. Psalm 10:8 clobbered me yesterday: \"His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "hope"","block_context":{"text":"hope","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=20816"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ayom-rohmansyah-0ieffv5ju-i-unsplash-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1183&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ayom-rohmansyah-0ieffv5ju-i-unsplash-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1183&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ayom-rohmansyah-0ieffv5ju-i-unsplash-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1183&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ayom-rohmansyah-0ieffv5ju-i-unsplash-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1183&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ayom-rohmansyah-0ieffv5ju-i-unsplash-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1183&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7200,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=7200","url_meta":{"origin":11730,"position":1},"title":"CHRISTMAS IS BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE","author":"Jo Alo","date":"December 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Driving in circles at the Christmas tree farm, we argued almost the whole time. Our sweet little grandsons, Paul, and Martin, bored in the backseat, \u201cCan we get out and walk?\u201d Tripping over stumps, we found the perfect one to cut down. Not to wide, nor too high, we acted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Bible"","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tony-litvyak-EN7gAcMYy7w-unsplash.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tony-litvyak-EN7gAcMYy7w-unsplash.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tony-litvyak-EN7gAcMYy7w-unsplash.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/tony-litvyak-EN7gAcMYy7w-unsplash.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8301,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=8301","url_meta":{"origin":11730,"position":2},"title":"“My soul, wait thou only upon God.” Psalm 62:5","author":"Jo Alo","date":"March 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been a people pleaser. 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What\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "salvation"","block_context":{"text":"salvation","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=56391"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rommel-davila-j9netahsnkw-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1152&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rommel-davila-j9netahsnkw-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1152&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rommel-davila-j9netahsnkw-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1152&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rommel-davila-j9netahsnkw-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1152&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rommel-davila-j9netahsnkw-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1152&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17242,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=17242","url_meta":{"origin":11730,"position":3},"title":"The Testing of Your Faith","author":"Jo Alo","date":"October 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\"God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and see what was really in his heart.\" 2 Chronicles 32:31 It typically comes as a surprise to most of us\u2014tests given by God for those who follow Him. 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It\u2019s featherless form barely survived more than a couple hours. Looking to bury it, I hadn\u2019t any tool for digging, and the soil stiff as cement. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Bible"","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/cemetary.jpeg?fit=612%2C406&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/cemetary.jpeg?fit=612%2C406&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/cemetary.jpeg?fit=612%2C406&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9259,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=9259","url_meta":{"origin":11730,"position":5},"title":"“You are beautiful!” Song of Solomon 4:1","author":"Jo Alo","date":"April 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The magnolia is blooming. When it buds I scramble outside to photograph its beauty. Taking fragile stems in hand, I kiss tips of white to my nose. Twenty-four hours later, petals unfold like soft silk fingers, cupping pink fruit like precious jewels. It's easy to see God's glory in nature\u2014it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Bible"","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/alex-ferdean-wQOVJPWshTo-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C729&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/alex-ferdean-wQOVJPWshTo-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C729&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/alex-ferdean-wQOVJPWshTo-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C729&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/alex-ferdean-wQOVJPWshTo-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C729&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/alex-ferdean-wQOVJPWshTo-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C729&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/erik-karits-jmdbsglvt8e-unsplash.jpg?fit=6720%2C4480&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/143625079"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11730"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19353,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11730\/revisions\/19353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}