(2 minutes, 43 seconds)

I met a new friend not long ago—one of those rare, instant connections that defies explanation. Kelly told me that her earliest memories as a little girl were of boldly approaching people, looking up into their faces, studying their features, and wondering if they might be her family.

Her adoptive parents told Kelly from the very beginning that she was adopted. She was told she was born on Valentine’s Day, but no one knew anything about her birth mom. Kelly told me that, for as long as she could remember, she had wondered who her biological mom and dad were, what kind of people they might be, and where they lived.

Out of a desperate desire to know who she was, Kelly continued throughout her life looking into the faces of neighbors and strangers alike, hoping to see a resemblance, a reflection of herself so she could finally learn where she came from and who she belonged to.

Kelly’s childhood search is, to some degree, within each of us. Our identity, who we are, and who we belong to can ground us and steady our hearts and minds. Consciously, or subconsciously our identity informs how we act and think. Kelly’s looking into the faces of potential family members to discover her identity was profoundly astute.

As Christians, to know who we are and understand ourselves better, we begin by looking into the face of God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Father. We find our identity and worth in what He says about us as His chosen daughters by looking to God and who He is.

God, in His kindness, invites us to know Him through His Word and His creation. The Bible is filled with descriptions of God and loaded with truths about who He is, what He’s like, and His heart for us. Looking up into the “face of God” settles us and solidifies our identity. Here are just three examples:

Because God is Creator, you are valued. You are His image bearer. He made you. Your name is engraved on His hands. He never forgets about you. You are worth everything to Him.

Because God is Redeemer, you are forgiven, rescued, and free. Boaz, as Ruth’s kinsman redeemer, covered her and said in effect, “This one, she’s mine.” Jesus, by willingly laying down His life for yours, offers redemption to you by covering and removing your sin and shame.

Because He is Father, you are chosen, adopted, and beloved. As followers of Jesus, you belong to the Father. He cherishes you. His delight is in you.

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Two months before my stepdad passed away, he told me a secret. We were cuddled close on his sofa with his dog Zoey lying next to him as we talked about my mom and how much we missed her. It was always a joy and mutually beneficial to our hearts to visit about her as we honored her memory. But, this time after our chat down memory lane, there was a palpable pause.

“I have a secret,” Bob said succinctly.

“Is it a secret that you can share?” I held my breath.

Rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand and looking down, he said, “I don’t know.”

I waited, honoring his space.

His secret was my mom’s secret that she had taken to the grave three years earlier—a big secret that she had entrusted at some point to my stepdad.

Quietly and without looking up, he said, “You have another sister. Your mom had a baby before she met your dad.”

Stunned and nearly unable to speak, I croaked out my first question, asking if they had met her. They had not.

Bob told me that my mom had hoped all her adult life that one day, a girl looking like her would appear on her doorstep. That never happened. Bob also told me that my mom celebrated her daughter’s birthday every year—her precious little Valentine.

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I searched for seventeen months. Kelly and I miraculously found each other through thin threads of connection. I am the link to the family Kelly has been looking into faces to find. She is the second sister I always wished for.

Sadly, since Kelly didn’t make it to our doorstep before Mom died, it is now my unfolding joy and great privilege to tell her about her birth mom and introduce her to the rest of her family. I am eager for the day when it will be my holy privilege to point Kelly’s face, the one that looks so much like our mom’s, upward toward the face of God and introduce Him to her.

Precious One, beloved of God, look full in His wonderful face and know your beginning and belonging place. In the face of God, you will see who you are because of Whose you are.