RELEASED: Living From Our True Identity, Part 8
SCRIPTURE
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. - Judges 6:27
MEDITATION
I love the story of Gideon because he is a man in process. When we struggle under the weight of fear and doubt, it is easy to feel like God is running out of patience with us. Gideon’s story in scripture (Judges 6-8) shows us the truth is very different.
How do we get from Gideon hiding in a winepress (Judges 6:11) to leading a historic military victory (chapter 7)? More importantly, how does God respond to us while we are still figuring out our true identity in him?
When we meet Gideon, he believes God has abandoned his people. His initial interactions with the Lord are filled with "ifs" and "buts." Yet, God looks at this fearful man and calls him a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). God responds to Gideon's anxiety with reassurance, proving himself to be kind and trustworthy. In response, Gideon builds an altar in obedience—but he is still so terrified of public opinion that he does it under the cover of night.
I have a confession to make: I am a recovering people-pleaser. I deeply resonate with Gideon’s wrestling match between the desire to obey God and the fear of man. There is a beautifully messy, human side to this story. Gideon obeys, but he does it trembling. It is a comforting reminder that God uses us right in the middle of our weakness.
Gideon’s journey shows that true identity is forged through honest wrestling. When he puts out the fleece the first time (Judges 6:36-38), he is asking, "Can I trust you?" The second time (Judges 6:39-40), he asks, "Are you angry with me?"
God allows Gideon the grace to grapple with his calling, gently transforming him into the leader he always knew him to be.
I used to think my identity was simply to be "strong." My name, Charlotte, actually means strength. But over time, that strength became a defense mechanism—a way to rely only on myself and block out the world. The breakthrough came when God gently showed me I didn't have to carry everything in my own power. Instead, he gave me a new word to capture my identity: Warrior. Unlike isolated strength, being a warrior means fighting in alignment with God. It means knowing when to battle, and knowing when to retreat and rest in him.
We are not defined by what we do, but by whose we are.
REFLECTION
Where are you letting the fear of what others think dictate how or when you obey God?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Based in Glasgow, Charlotte Penketh serves with Novo alongside her husband Adam and kids. She combines her heart for ministry with her background as a qualified counselor to walk with missionaries and pioneers on the front lines. Charlotte is dedicated to helping Kingdom workers heal, grow, and discover their true identities so they can run their race with endurance and strength.