Have you ever felt lost in your sense of self? Have you ever felt out of place in your purpose in life? In Who You Are, therapist and author Judy Cha writes a guide on internalizing the Gospel to find your true identity. Centered on the Good News and generous in grace, this book will help you understand and apply biblical truths about your God-given identity.
Released from Shame
Judy Cha (M.A., Westminster Theological Seminary, Ph.D, Eastern University) is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in relationships, self-image, and multicultural issues. She serves as the director of Redeemer Counseling Services, a ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Judy also counsels individuals, couples, and families through her Gospel-centered Integrative Framework for Therapy (GIFT) approach.
Cha weaves her personal story into the book, and I was most moved to hear how important it had been for her to be accepted into mainstream Western culture while growing up as a minority. Her story of assimilating by speaking without an accent and learning mannerisms and fashion sounded familiar to me.
Cha says that we long for acceptance from others and depend on outside information to define our identity. When we feel like we don’t fit in, we reinforce the message that we’re not good enough. This gripping sense of shame can only be released when we go to God for our identity.
Idolatry and Engagement
I was most interested to read how idolatry is connected to our identity. Cha defines idolatry as any object, person, or pursuit that becomes more important than God in our lives. Further, she describes deep idols as our innate desires for power, control, approval, and comfort. Our surface idols are the tangible objects, persons, or pursuits that become idols, such as money, career, sex, or children.
I reflected on my own idols and my leanings toward both mastery and avoidance tactics. I resolved to relate to God with my identity, seeking his strength and assurance.
I was most challenged to see that our need to engage with God. Cha says that we must:
- receive the comfort and compassion of Christ
- remember Christ on the cross as our substitutionary sacrifice
- rejoice in Christ’s resurrection and in our new identity
- repent of our sinfulness
- grieve our brokenness
- reflect and represent Christ as his ambassadors.
I am eager to explain my experiences with God by using these words.
A Child of God
Towards the end of the book, Cha gives several guidelines for practicing vulnerability to connect with others:
- Consider what you want to share
- Consider who you are sharing with
- Lead by sharing your fear or how you are feeling
- Ask for what you need.
Through her words, I am motivated to be more emotionally connected in my relationships.
This book gives a framework for finding your true identity, with practical help from a professional. It is grounded in the Gospel and will help you grow in Christ as you experience and enjoy what it means to be a child of God.
I received a media copy of Who You Are, and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram – my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.