Rebekah Brown reviews Who Am I and What Am I Doing with My Life? by Justin N. Poythress.
Unsurprisingly, this book is about identity. Surprisingly, it is more than this! Full of fresh and insightful relevance at a time when identity pressures are endemic, fluid, and intense; these nine readable chapters are about how to make right choices and be the person you want to be and so restore joy and stability where it is lacking.
The book begins with the question: 1. Who are you? Whilst addressing the complexity of finding self in the flux of many selves, Poythress holds foundational the mystery of being centred on and in Christ as core to identity. In the first chapter he builds a case for this being the “Master Identity”. The one identity that rules them all. Equally foundational, he shows God’s purposefulness in making believers more like Jesus.
The subsequent chapters build on this stable yet dynamic base and tackle contemporary questions and challenges: 2. Where are you going? Explaining the process of transformation into “More of Your Jesus-self”. 3. Making the Best of What You’re Given, addresses those things that are givens whether thorns or gifts. 4. Being Authentic, navigates the internal conflicts of the old and new self in growing or hindering the “Jesus-self”. 5. Living Free, develops the theme of servanthood and its implications in the fight against sin. 6. Telling a Story, was a highlight for me personally. The power of the narrative really struck home – read it yourself! 7. Relating to God argues persuasively that our multi-faceted relationships are intrinsic to our identity and the essential visual aid in understanding the most important of these. 8. Finding Community explains the essential nature of being part of “church” as hard as that is! Finally, 9. Three Red Herrings: Work, Sex and Politics, the powerful alternatives to a Master Identity in Christ.
I commend this Jesus-centric book. My 20-year-old-son asked me this very question: “What am I doing with my life?” I am thankful for the wisdom of Poythress who spells out the answers.
WHO AM I AND WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?
By Justin N. Poythress
The Good Book Co. 150 pages. £8.49
ISBN 978 1 802 544 183
