
Sons, Not Slaves: Resting in Your Identity in Christ
Believe and Become Podcast – Episode 9 Recap
Have you ever felt like you’re constantly striving to please God, only to end up exhausted? Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking, “If I just do more, serve harder, or perform better, then He’ll be proud of me.”
The truth is—God is already proud of you. He delights in you not because of what you do, but because of who you are: His child.
God Sees You in the Everyday
John 15:15 reminds us, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.”
That means you are not a slave, working for God’s approval. You are His son or daughter, and He sees you in the ordinary—whether you’re scrambling eggs, changing diapers, or driving to work. In every small task, He whispers: “That’s my child, and I’m proud.”
From Striving to Resting
One of the most freeing revelations is realizing that God’s love isn’t earned by performance. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus was declared beloved by His Father before He ever preached a sermon or performed a miracle (Matthew 3:17). Likewise, you are deeply loved—right now—before you “do” anything for Him.
When we rest in this truth, our work shifts from striving for God to working with Him. Like a child helping their father push the garbage can to the curb, the Father does the heavy lifting, but He loves having us alongside Him.
Learning to Abide
Abiding means living from love, not for love. It’s the quiet posture of sitting with God, letting Him speak truth over us, and allowing His love to shape our identity.
This kind of abiding can be uncomfortable at first—especially if you’re used to busyness or performance. But when you slow down long enough to let Him love you, your identity begins to flow from that place of affection rather than striving.
Key Takeaways
You are God’s child, not His slave. Your worth isn’t tied to performance but to relationship.
God is proud of you in the ordinary. He delights in your everyday moments, no matter how small.
True transformation flows from abiding. Activity becomes an overflow of love, not a way to earn it.
💡 Want to go deeper?
We’d love to walk alongside you in discovering your true identity and breaking free from lies that hold you back. Learn more about our 10-week coaching program here: joshandcorina.com/coaching
📚 You can also find encouragement in our books:
40 Days to Peace by Josh
Transformed by Truth by Corina
👉 If this post encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs the reminder: you are loved simply because you belong to Him.
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