Don’t Be Afraid of Being You

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

God didn’t create me to be somebody else. When I get to heaven, he’s not going to ask me why I wasn't more like my sister, my father, or my neighbor. God made me one of a kind, and he wants me to be real.

He wants to use me as me.

The Bible says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). 

The problem is, many people try to be someone they’re not. They live for the approval of others. Or they think God would love them more if they acted differently. But God’s love isn’t based on how I act. He loves me no matter what I do.

One barrier that often keeps people from being used by God is the fear of being real. Afraid people won’t like me if they find out who I really me, so I live an insecure life. But the Bible says, “The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God” Romans 8:15 (NCV).

The antidote to insecurity is God’s Spirit at work in me. When I live as a child of God, despite my mistakes and weaknesses, I'm liberated to be who God made me to be.

My imperfections are actually a good thing. People don’t grow from strengths; they grow from weaknesses. Showing only my strengths to the world won’t make others feel close to me; it may even make them feel jealous or distant. But when I admit my imperfections—when I'm real with others—people draw closer to me.

So I have a decision to make. Am I ready to be real? I can be stuck and enslaved by fear. Or I can be the real me and enjoy the good things God planned for me long ago.

In summary:

Ephesians 2:10 establishes that every individual is a divine "masterpiece," intentionally crafted with a unique identity to fulfill a specific, pre-ordained purpose. The passage shows that the primary barrier to fulfilling this purpose is the "mask of perfection" or the drive for social approval, which fuels insecurity and isolation. By embracing the reality that we are children of God—rather than slaves to fear—we are liberated to be authentic about our weaknesses. This vulnerability does not diminish our impact; instead, it fosters genuine connection and allows others to grow through our honesty, ensuring that our lives align with the "good things" God prepared for us from the beginning.

Bottom Line:

My greatest impact is found in my authentic identity as God's masterpiece, not in a polished imitation of someone else.

Next Step:

Identify one area of my life where I'm currently "performing" to gain approval or hide an insecurity. Commit to a specific act of radical honesty in that area this week—whether that is admitting a mistake to a colleague or sharing a struggle with a friend—thereby aligning my external actions with my true identity as a secure child of God.