Unafraid: Be you. Be authentic. Find the grit and grace to shine.

by Carey Scott

In a world where fake is the name of the game, we’re losing the battle for true, authentic living. And one of the main reasons is that we’re simply too afraid to be real.

You see, if we believe we’re unlovable or unworthy or unacceptable, chances are we’ll never feel the freedom to show the world who we really are.

Struggling with identity is a core reason we struggle to live in authentic ways. You see, we can’t be real unless we know who we really are.

When your roles and responsibilities, your places of authority, or your ability to make an impact changes, your identity does not. It can’t. And because of Jesus, it won’t.

You were sanctified (blessed, approved, dedicated, made holy) and appointed (chosen, selected, picked) to bring the Good News of Jesus into the world, even before you took your first gulp of earthly air. This is your authentic self—your true self.

It didn’t matter that God found my words pleasing and honoring; I felt ridiculous.

Here are four meaty truths this verse tells us about hope: God is the source of it. It partners with faith. We can have it in abundance. The Holy Spirit awakens it.

You’ll never fully understand God’s will or ways. We must come to know this. God doesn’t make mistakes. We must come to accept this. God is sovereign. We must come to believe this. God is good all the time. We must come to trust this. God is for you in every way. We must come to recognize this.