Identity is the most valuable part of us—and God wants to heal our perspective on who we are and what we are capable of.
He’s reminding us that:
“…we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV)
God’s Invitation to Rise into Our Identity
Identity answers the question, “Who has God created me to be?” While destiny answers the question, “What has God called me to do?” [1]
Sometimes, we sense the pull of God’s call toward our destiny, yet we feel conflicted.
This is especially true in times of transition.
If you relate to this, be encouraged:
You don’t have to strive to become someone else to fulfill your destiny.
It’s about rising into who God already says you are.
And who the Father has created you to be.
Often, this healing journey unfolds over time.
But sometimes, He meets us in a single moment of grace and power.
The Staff I Leaned Upon
That’s what happened to me recently.
And I believe it contains a word in season for many.
During a recent Sunday morning church service, the presence of God came upon me powerfully.
He set me free from the identity of chronic illness.
This was despite having received healing breakthroughs—the most recent in May, when a 14-year condition was finally resolved!
Yet it had become the “staff I leaned upon.”
The story of why I couldn’t do things.
A line of reasoning.
My comfort zone.
The week before, Dr. Clayton Coombs spoke about Moses’ staff.
He said:
“A staff has been his security because it’s been a weapon for protection…
And I want to challenge you, what are the things that you find security in?
…What is it that you’ve been leaning on?
Throw it to the ground.” [2]
The Staff, the Serpent, and the Savior
The Holy Spirit used that image and the story of Moses to speak straight to my heart.
As I closed my eyes during worship, I had an impression.
It was I who had cast down my staff.
And it turned into a serpent in front of me!
I thought uncomfortably, “I should pick this up, like the Lord told Moses.”
Immediately, Jesus stepped towards me, with the serpent momentarily between us.
“Beloved, let Me take care of this.”
Jesus reached down and grasped the serpent, and I knew He had taken the sting.
Every Face Turned Towards the Cross
Suddenly, the vision changed. [3]
I was looking up at the bronze serpent on the pole.
The one God told Moses to make. (Numbers 21:5-9)
I realized it represented the Cross and the judgment upon the serpent.
In this encounter, I stood in a crowd that was lit with gold.
It was our church!
Every eye was turned up, and every face turned towards that pole.
The cross.
For healing.
One face stood out—that of a woman ahead of me.
She was looking up, in rapt attention.
It dawned on me: Jesus has taken care of the serpent and the sin!
My authority is in His finished work, in His Name.
I heard Him say, “Presenting all that I Am.” [4]
Linger in the Healing
As we transitioned out of worship, one of our pastors sensed we should linger.
He said, “God is healing people of long-term illnesses.”
Suddenly, the power of everything I had just seen, and that word, all came together.
I physically felt a rush of heat come upon me.
Instantly, I knew I was healed!
God set me free from the identity I’d been carrying.
It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized—the “woman in the crowd” was me.
3 Signs You are in a Season of Identity Renewal
I believe many are in a similar place right now.
And God is inviting you to see yourself through His eyes—
to know who you are in His presence.
Here are three signs this is happening:
1. You’re in Transition—and It’s Uncomfortable
During a transition, we’re no longer at home in the old, but the new hasn’t fully arrived.
Like Gideon in Judges 6, we may feel unqualified.
Perhaps you find yourself saying, “But Lord…” as you rehearse your history.
But God is calling you to agree with His version of your story:
“Go in the strength you have… Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14)
2. Old Identity Labels No Longer Fit
During these times, even good labels or roles from the past begin to feel limiting.
They served you once, but now they no longer fit who you’re becoming. [4]
It may have defined you.
Others may have placed labels upon you!
But you are chosen and loved.
And God is calling you into freedom.
3. Your Limitations Feel More Real Than Your Calling
Sometimes, like Moses, we say, “But Lord, I can’t…”
And He responds with a promise of His presence:
“I will be with you…always.” [5]
If your story has become your “staff”—your comfort zone or excuse—Jesus invites you to lay it down.
And to see with new eyes.
See Your Identity Through the Cross
The master key to understanding our identity is this:
- To see ourselves through the Cross.
Otherwise, we focus on our flaws, weaknesses, and failures.
Instead of seeing His glory.
One day, God spoke to me:
“Stop looking at the earthen vessel and start seeing the golden vessel.”
Healing comes, as we view ourselves through the lens of Christ’s finished work. (Gal 2:20)
Honor Jesus by Receiving His Work
What value do we place on His great sacrifice?
We honor Jesus when we embrace not only who He is, but what He has done—
for us personally.
Your humanity and His redemption aren’t a contradiction, but a testimony to His grace.
And a source of great power. [6]
Jesus says, “It is finished!”
It is done.
And so it is.
You are Known and Called
Today, know that you are loved unconditionally.
You are a chosen vessel of His glory.
And with His Spirit, you have all the ability you need.
Notes:
[1] Quote from my post, Your Identity and Destiny: 3 Keys from Gideon
[2] “The Crown and the Sceptre” Sermon spoken by Dr. Clayton Coombs, Planetshakers Church, 6th July 2025
[3] When I share a vision, it’s typically a vivid impression in my mind’s eye, accompanied by a strong sense of God’s presence. It’s not an open (physical) vision. All prophetic insights should align with Scripture and be prayerfully weighed—see 8 Ways to Grow in Prophetic Visions and Pictures.
[4] “As presenting all that I am” is a statement from John 16:23 in the AMPC version that the Holy Spirit brought to my mind in this moment.
[5] Exodus 3:12, Matt 28:20
[6] 2 Cor 12:9
Related Posts:
Leave a Comment:
I’d love to hear from you! Do you relate to one of these signs or insights right now? My standout is the “master key”, seeing our identity through the cross. Let me know in the blog comments below.
Happy 16th Birthday, Enliven Blog!
When I began writing in July 2009, I wasn’t sure I’d make it past a few weeks. But here we are—hundreds of blog posts later—still sowing, by God’s grace.
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© 2025 Helen Calder, Enliven Blog
Enliven Ministries: Prophetic ministry for a revival generation
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
Thank you Pastor Helen for this word.
I have written to you and your husband previously and been blessed by both of you in a mighty way.
Your encouragement and prayer are helping me as I continue to write my manuscript on “The Sermon on the Mount”, which I am still in the process of working on as well as and waiting on the leading of the Lord for the next steps to take.
Quite frankly, I am in over my head, but not over the Lord’s head in this writing.
However, this current word you shared is a word to my wife and I, but even more so to my wife Janet.
She hasn’t walked without a walker since 2019 without a real explanation as to why after a reaction in her body to medicine withdrawal.
Therefore, a tendency toward the identity of chronic illness and a perspective supporting it has been her battle for the last 6 years.
But I believe your words here on identity are for her to wrap her faith around, to change her thinking and ultimately her (and my) perspective.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
God Bless you and your husband.
Sincerely, Chris
I’m praying for you both, Chris, for freedom, healing and clarity as you move forward. How precious is your identity in Christ! You have authority and power in Him.
Thank You, v very much, i so identify with your having a staff. i know i have many “staves” that i use or more like all of these things are amalgamated into one.Some pf the things that make up my “staff” is the broken relationships with my siblings, the little ministry i have in a house group & in the Central Prison, spinal canal stenosis…which has seen great healing and improvement but not yet complete. I “know” my identity is “in Christ” and yet am still struggling & learning to walk in the finished work of HIS Cross. God Bless us all.
He is working in all things, Charles, His grace is abundant to you
I’m praying for a breakthrough visitation for you, in the revelation of it, in Jesus’ Name
Please pray for me there’s a company that is refusing to pay my money it’s been 7 months
This was for me, deeply touching. So perfectly timed. My son has been chronically ill devastatingly for 9 years. It has become my hiding crutch. It has stolen, killed and destroyed. I just want my son back and when I muster faith the enemy ravages harder and laughs. I keep my faith, my son loves Jesus too, he is special needs so he has his own way of seeing ..I keep believing a miracle can arrive for him. Thank you for this word of truth. God deliver me from fear and guilt. God I throw down my staff. Take it all! Be true to your word and heal my son let his name arise to be seen by man through your Name, that my son could be a city on a hill, limitless vision and no boundaries. Amen.
amen, amen Sam! Thank You Lord for this testimony, for this miracle in motion, for this fresh revelation of identity, in Jesus’ Name
Grazie Helen
Per questo messaggio
Il grande valore dell identità e un dono meraviglioso che abbiamo in cristo
Il bastone su cui mi sono poggiato tante volte in passato non mi ha fatto realizzare
Che Cristo e la nostra vera forza su cui ci dobbiamo poggiare lui si e chinato a me in un momento del lutto di mio padre e della malattia di mia mamma come figlio unico ho passato momenti di transizione e cambiamenti per la mia famiglia
Ma guardando a lui ho avuto la forza come quel serpente di rame.
Servo Dio con gioia grazie Helen
Dio ti benedica
Dio ti benedica per i 16 anni di attività
Benedizioni
thank you Salvatore
This is a powerful testimony, Salvatore.
May we never stop marveling:
“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” Colossians 2:14-15, NLT
Helen as I read this blog I am in Asia amongst tribal leaders. I am so moved. Thank you so much. This content means such a lot to me.
Also a mighty big congratulations for the 16 year milestone.
Thank you again Helen for a timely message. I received a Prophetic Word in January 2014 which I titled, “Identity” which I have shared several times since and this message is a confirmation personally. I have also am leading a church group in a study of “Ephesians” which again confirms what you have shared. I will send you a copy of this by email ASAP. Love & blessings, Roger.
That’s so encouraging Roger!
Thanks for this sermon . It rekindles hope of identity in me. It dispels spirit of fear in me and keeps me focus on better future. I am God plan and workmanship. God has perfected that which concerns me from the beginning and especially if one believes in the power of the cross for redemption. God bless you indeed for this wonderful message.
Amen to that Popoola kola oyekunle
I have been reminded of Psalm 139, where it says,
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well. (v14)
Thank you for this word. When you said ‘even good labels or roles from the past begin to feel limiting,’ can you share what you mean by ‘good labels’? Like what examples did you have in mind? I want to understand how to know when something that once helped me is now something God is calling me to lay down.
Hello Meme, it’s something to personally process with God, but I know that for me it’s been related to labels related to roles from past seasons that I’ve grown out of.