The Ultimate Status

Throughout our lives, we have many statuses we identify with, those positions in society we hold that make us who we are. However, there is always one status that overshines the rest; this master status is the most significant aspect of our identity that we want others to see, whether it be our occupation, education level, familial position, etc. Our master status changes as we shift through the different seasons of our lives.

As an elementary-aged child, my master status was an artist; I loved the process of creation ever since I first learned to hold a pencil. Although I didn't realize it at the time, my works of art were no masterpieces and left much to be desired. But since my family and friends were constantly praising my work and building up my ego, I was certain I was an accomplished artist. I wanted my creativity to be the focus of my identity because I got the impression from the approval I was receiving that my art defined me. I loved being known as "the artist," and that was my master status for the majority of my life as a young child.

Unfortunately, that era ended after a peer described one of my drawings as "not very good."

My self esteem plummeted after receiving that critique. How can I deserve the title of an artist when not everyone likes my drawings? I decided that I wasn't good enough to be known for my art anymore; I needed a new master status that couldn't be trampled over by some girl my age. That's when I found my solution through discovering my new passion: gymnastics.

Since I started at a late age, I was not as advanced as the other girls in my class who were several years younger. I felt frustrated because I was convinced I had to be the best, so my sister and I worked out to strengthen our muscles, stretched ourselves to a contortionist level, and perfected our skills every day. As our hard work began to pay off, my confidence soared. I started receiving comments about my progress in gymnastics from my family, friends, and gymnastics instructors. These comments made me feel as if my athletism defined me, so my greatest desire was to be known as "the gymnast" and my entire life revolved around gymnastics.

Until I made the decision to quit gymnastics to play basketball and soccer.

The transition was difficult because I went from having four years of experience in gymnastics to sports I had never played competitively before. It frustrated me having to retrain myself to learn a different set of skills while my other team members had been already playing for years. Fortunately, due to my incredible coaches and supportive teammates, I began to develop my skills and increase my understanding. By the end of the soccer season, I started to receive compliments on my athletism like I used to. These words of affirmation raised my ego, and I finally began to feel like myself again. When my confidence was at its peak one morning, I spent hours learning a new soccer move for the game that afternoon. As I sprinted down the soccer field and heard my name being cheered, I knew I had reobtained my master status.

That is, until my ACL snapped.

As I plummeted to the ground, I knew my soccer season had come to an unexpected end. It was clear I would be spending the entire summer relearning how to walk after I got ACL reconstruction surgery one month later. During this period of time, I was forced to watch from the sidelines as others participated in sporty activities when I was used to being the "athlete." I had to refrain from doing the very things I wanted so desperately yearned to be known for. And even now, as I am five months post-surgery, I can tell that I will never be at the level I used to be. I have to wear a bulky brace when playing sports, and am constantly reminded to "be careful" and "take it easy." Instead of being known as the girl who is fast or who can do a backflip, I am the girl with the ACL injury who can never live up to what she used to be. With one wrong step on the soccer field, my master status was no more.

Needing another status to call my own, I began to explore my identity as a student. I knew something about my academic mindset had to change after struggling through eighth grade, so I spent the summer studying the subjects that I would take that autumn and made sure I understood everything I learned. Despite my efforts, ninth grade was tough and required a level of responsibility and diligence I wasn't accustomed to. Thankfully, I managed to make it through my freshman year, and the challenging experience gave me the skills to tackle my subsequent years of high school. As a result, tenth grade was a cinch. My confidence rose as I breezed through my classes, applied to multiple clubs and societies, and even managed to finish school by February. Consequently, just like the times before, I started getting my motivation from the praise about my academics I received from my friends, family, and teachers. I wanted to be that student that always had good grades and seemed like everything academically came easily with no effort. I began to put my worth in how well I was doing in school, which was not a good idea as you could imagine.

Soon my junior year rolled around, and I was not ready for the massive workload it brought. Instead of being months ahead, I was struggling to stay on pace. My classes were more challenging, and there were many concepts I did not understand. I no longer had time for the things I loved because my entire day was devoted to completing a paper or studying for a test. Clearly, I was not having the relaxed experience I had the previous year.

But the ultimate climax for my inner conflict was the day I took the PSAT.

I had studied for months, and everyone, including myself, was confident I would ace the test. However, I panicked as soon as I opened the booklet. My mind was scattered, and as a result I ran out of time on multiple sections and was forced to guess on many questions. After the PSAT was over, I knew for sure I did not do my best and definitely did not get the score I was hoping for. Once again, I felt as if I no longer deserved my master status.

I wasn't an artist, an athlete, or a student. Every master status I chose to pursue slipped through my fingers after I failed to meet the standards I held for myself. I realized that every earthly title that we strive after would eventually prove worthless, leaving us with an identity crisis. When you work towards positions in society that are determined by the standards of other people, falling short of those standards causes us to feel as if we don't deserve those positions. Is there a master status out there that I could call my own for eternity no matter people say or what mistakes I made?

I decided to search for the answer to my question in the Bible, and found the passage Philippians 3:3-11 that exactly described my situation.

"For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (Phil 3:3),

Paul begins the passage by explaining one of the main roles required of us from our identity in Christ: to worship God's glory without getting caught up in our earthly statuses, or putting "confidence in the flesh."

"though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless" (Phil 3:4-6).

Paul goes on to establish the reasons why he of all people have a right to take pride in his position in society. All of the attributes he mentions were highly valued back in his day.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Phil 3:7-8),

What Paul says next goes against our natural way of thinking; instead of getting caught up in his many worldly statuses, he thinks of them as "loss" and "rubbish," and consequently is able to gain Christ.

"and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead" (Phil 3:9-11).

To gain the eternal status of a child of God, we must reject the worldly titles that distract us from our relationship with the Lord. Unlike other identities that are earned by fulfilling standards set by society, we do not obtain our identity in Christ by our works - instead, it comes from our faith in God. Our role as children of God is to grow closer to him and strive to become like him. Like Jesus attained resurrection from the dead, we can obtain resurrection from the death caused by our sins. You certainly can't get that from getting a good PSAT score.

After reading the passage, I realized I had been putting my confidence in the flesh like Paul had warned against. I strove after meeting worldly standards while my walk with God was put on a back burner. I understand what Paul means when he says that he counts all his titles as loss in order to gain Christ. When I focused on the statuses of the earth, I was distracted from pursuing my identity in Christ. In addition, I realized that I obtained this devine status simply by declaring my faith in the Lord. Also, this title is significantly more fulfilling than the others I pursued - the reward is salvation and eternal life.

With my new understanding, I will strive after my identity in Christ that yields an eternal reward. I know the way will be challenging and I am bound to mess up, but God knows we aren't perfect. When we make mistakes, we need to pick ourselves up, repent of our sins, and be reminded of the truth God gives us in His Word about who His says we are. I encourage you to evaluate your master status and if it is distracting you from your identity in Christ. Would you rather obtain a worldly position in society with standards impossible to meet, or have a status centered on sustaining a faith in the unchanging God that will lead to eternal life?

- Lena