Confusing Your Who with Your Do
Have you ever noticed that the first thing many ask when they meet you is, “So, what do you do?” It’s a seemingly simple question, yet it carries the weight of societal pressures and determines how people sort and file you within their minds. For many of us, our answers become the shortcut to defining who we are because people aren’t usually interested in the part of you that isn’t contributing to an income-producing activity. Therefore, you respond with the classic:
- I’m a designer
- I’m a nurse
- I’m an entrepreneur
- I own a business
- I work in manufacturing
- I work in finance
- I’m a sales rep for such and such
- I’m a fitness and nutrition coach
But here’s the newsflash—your job title isn’t who you are. Nor does your business success (or failure) determine your worth. If we confuse our who (our identity in Christ) with our do (our work), any setback or failure can feel like a personal crisis and a severe loss that can lead to years of unnecessary depression and stagnation.
Think of the athletes who dream of playing in the pros one day. Their entire soul is wrapped up in their dream of being a professional. According to NCAA Recruiting Facts, in a study published in 2024, they share how less than 2% of college athletes make it to the pros. Although I’m all for believers who dream big goals, I’m frightened by what happens to us when we don’t reach specific goals.
We never consider how well we did, how much progress we made in improving our mindset, how winning helped us mature spiritually, and how these things helped us grow overall. We only think about the losses because we feel shame.
However, For Christian business owners, our identity must remain firmly planted in Christ and His righteousness because only He provides unchanging truth about who we are and the good we have in Him.
Failure and Identity
I remember when I couldn’t raise enough money to publish my magazine over twenty years ago. It was embarrassing and hurtful, and I felt like my world crashed. Depression was heavy and draining. It took me years to overcome that ordeal. It wasn’t until well over a decade that I began to detach the failure from my identity.
Subconsciously, I wore the stigma of a has-been or one-hit wonder. Although I knew I wasn’t a loser or failure, I struggled to detach from the connection until one day, I started to learn the truth about who I am in Christ. You’re more than a worker, laborer, artist, coach, business owner, hair stylist, gym owner, personal trainer, scientist, architect, doctor, or pilot. God made you into a living soul—a human being, not just a title of a human doing. Your life is more than being a husband and wife—in fact, you’re hidden in Christ.
Also, when you fail in anything, you have built-in benefits that bring you closer to God and purpose. You didn’t learn to walk from trying to walk a few times; you had to fall so many times before you learned to walk as a toddler.
Losing is also a way of helping you get closer to your goals because the experience of falling is never lost. That’s why a lot of entrepreneurs look like overnight success stories; we don’t know about them when they kept falling and needing to get back up. They didn’t attach their identity to what they didn’t do right; instead, they kept going until something finally started to work.
What Is Your Christian Identity?
In my book, The Acceleration Cure, I wrote a chapter called Identity blindness. The chapter will help you get unstuck and onto purpose because it strikes at the heart of who you are and who you are NOT. It discourages you from accepting a false identity, no longer when you can lead your life with whom God says you are in Him. Your identity in Christ is the foundation of your life—it’s built on the Rock of Christ. As a new creation, you cannot earn it through hard work or accomplishments, but it’s a gift of grace through faith through your salvation in Jesus.
Christian Identity Scriptures
Here are just a few Scriptures to keep you near the precious bleeding side of Christ and to walk in your Christian Identity in life and business.
Genesis 2:7 KJV, says, And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
John 1:12 KJV, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 2:20 KJV, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 2:10 KJV, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Remember Soulful,
- God loves you – Your primary role isn’t that of a boss, team leader, or entrepreneur—it’s as God’s deeply loved son or daughter.
- You are fearfully and wonderfully made – Your value comes from being created in God’s image, not from the amount of social media success or scale of your business.
- God has a divine plan for your life – God’s plans for you are more significant than any title you could give yourself or a label the world throws on you.
Understanding this truth about identity changes everything. Instead of hustling for the world’s validation, you can rest in God’s unconditional love. Instead of constant comparison, you can focus on faithfully stewarding the talents He has entrusted to you.
How to Thrive in Your Identity
Notice I said thrive in your identity. Your identity in Christ leads you to learn more about your role and function in the body of Christ. The body needs all members to play their role in sustainability. Therefore, play that position with excellence, whether you’re a hand or a toe.
Also, rooting yourself in your Christian identity doesn’t mean abandoning ambition or becoming complacent in your business pursuits. Instead, it means approaching your work from a place of security, trust, and reverence for God. That’s how you become a soul-healthy leader with confidence in the Lord. Here’s how to thrive:
Start Your Day with Prayer
- Before you tackle emails or to-do lists, dedicate time to God in prayer and Scripture reading. Quiet your mind, surrender to God, lay your burdens at His feet and ask Him to guide your actions and steps for the day. This daily practice grounds you, reminding you that you’re working for something far more significant than earthly accolades and the approval of likes and views.
Steward Your Gifts
- We serve an excellent God. Therefore, the Lord has entrusted and fashioned you with unique talents and resources to steward. Whether you’re coaching clients or designing products, strive with all diligence to do excellent work as a reflection of His glory.
Redefine Success
- True success isn’t about profits or recognition but faithfulness, love, and service. It’s about growing in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Success is about obedience and completing the course of life the Father called us to live in our Christian identity.
Are you faithfully stewarding your calling? Are you showing love and integrity in your work? When you measure your success by God’s standards, your focus shifts from external results to eternal impact.
How to Lead with Your Identity
As a Christian business leader, you are a servant of Jesus Christ, and how you lead your team or clients should reflect Christ’s example. Here’s how your identity in Him can inspire your leadership:
Lead with Grace and Mercy
- The same grace and mercy God shows you is the grace you’re called to extend to others even when you don’t want to. Whether you’re answering basic questions, resolving conflicts, or mentoring a team member, approach situations with prayer first and then patience and understanding.
Be Known for Integrity
- Your identity is evident in how you make decisions. Uphold principles of integrity and honesty, even when it’s inconvenient. Your actions will speak louder than your words about what—and Who—you stand for. Remember how good you’ve felt each time you trusted God and turned down a customer that didn’t align with your business when you needed the money. That’s integrity. God rewards integrity.
Elevate Others
- Great leaders empower those around them to win. When we reflect Christ’s servant leadership by nurturing people’s potential, encouraging them, and recognizing their contributions, we are truly blessed. Philippians 2:3 says it best: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.”
Living Boldly in Your Identity
Please don’t dismiss your business title, but remember that you’re more than that as your who is more prominent than your do. No longer do you need to function in your own strength, live up to a man-made title, and be a victim of your past failures or health diagnoses. Your identity in Christ is your Rock. The Rock of Christ is immovable, permanent, solid, and stable. He is the only constant and standard we must stand and build upon. Our world can never crumble if we’re rooted in His root system—the Vine. You are a child of God and you have an unshakable relationship with the eternal Triuine Godhead. When your foundation is secure, you’re freed from striving for approval and can instead thrive in your God-given calling.
When you’re free in God, you can step out on faith to build a profitable, purpose-driven business with an obedient servant’s heart.
If you’re stuck or unsure about how to walk boldly in your identity, I encourage you to explore my book, The Acceleration Cure. This powerful resource is designed to help you deepen your spiritual walk and step into your purpose-driven business with clarity and confidence. You won’t regret adding it to your spiritual growth library today and continue your momentum toward living boldly for Christ.
Soul Actions:
Identify the Scripture passages in the Bible that define your identity in Christ.
Live by faith if you trust that God created you to be more than a conqueror.
Display and extend grace and mercy to others as a servant leader
