Have you ever felt the weight of others trying to define who you are? In our workplaces and daily lives, we often grapple with being identified by the roles we play, the functions we serve, and the contributions we make. It's easy to get lost in these labels, but there is a greater identity that defines us.

I've been intentional about my career, sometimes saying no to certain opportunities because they would "place me in a box." In my last job, I placed significant limits on requests for me to speak publicly because I didn’t always want to be the "motivation."

How many of you know that you go through tests, and as you come out on the other side, your story is less about you and more about what God did in and through you? I had to learn that. As I navigated the world, I worked hard to shape people's perceptions of me, not just seeing me as a Black leader or the person who aged out of foster care with a "sad story." I didn’t want to be known simply as the guy from North City who made good. I didn’t want to be known just as a social worker, a banker, or a board member. It was only as I learned to lean into who God says I am that I stopped caring as much about what people think and the boxes they attempt to put me in. When I did this, the gifts that God gave me provided me with a “no limit” platform. A no limit platform is the idea that when you are obedient to God's word about who you are and your assignment, even when other people don’t get it, you will keep launching to the next mountain, hill, or opportunity while they are still watching the box.

So, who does God say we are? God says so much about who we are: we are no longer slaves, but free (Galatians 5:1), we are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), we are adopted (Ephesians 1:5), and we are chosen (Ephesians 1:4).

This understanding of who God says you and I are became so important to me as I started to chart my own course. If you take your instructions from the world or from other people about who you are, you will be constantly off balance and unfocused as a human and business leader.

I love the scripture Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Final Thought:

Remember, God has a plan for you. Take your focus off what "they" say and focus on what God says about you. What do you think God's plan is for your life? Embrace the truth of who you are in Him, and let that understanding give you the confidence to live out your unique purpose. In the comments below, tell me one thing that God says about you that gives you confidence you will live into that plan.

And remember, it is possible to climb out of and scale the stacked boxes they try to put you in, reaching new heights with God's guidance.

If this message resonated with you, share it with your network and add your perspective.