Turning the Page: Embracing Who You Are Now
Just recently, I was asked during a job interview what my hobbies were. Without thinking, I said, “reading.” It was the script I’d been rehearsing for years. Then came the follow-up question: “Who’s your favorite author?”
I froze. After an awkward pause, I said, “JK Rowling,” even though I haven’t touched her books—or really any books—in years. The truth is, I haven’t been the girl who loves to read for a long time. But for years, I clung to that identity, even when it no longer fit.
When the Past Becomes an Idol
I wasn’t just holding onto reading as a hobby—I was holding onto the way it made me feel. Reading made me feel worthy, smart, and seen. It was something I was praised for as a child, and somewhere along the way, I tied my value to it.
But life changes. Seasons shift. And yet, so often, we say things like, “I used to be disciplined. I used to be so fit. I used to be this or that.” We hold onto those past versions of ourselves as if they’re the standard we’ll never measure up to again.
When we do that, we don’t realize how detrimental it can be. It’s okay to reminisce about who you were, but you can’t let the past become an idol. When you glorify who you used to be, you leave no room to celebrate who you are today—and no space for God to mold you into who He’s calling you to be now.
Giving Myself Permission to Change
Just a few days ago, I gave myself permission to try audiobooks. For years, I avoided them because I thought they didn’t “count” as reading. I was clinging so tightly to the past that I didn’t give myself the grace to grow into the present.
Audiobooks fit the season I’m in—a season where sitting down with a physical book just isn’t realistic. I still love stories, but how I engage with them has evolved. My taste has changed too. As a child, I loved fantasy and fiction. Now, I’m drawn to memoirs, stories of faith, and books that help me grow.
This is what growth looks like: finding new ways to honor what you love that align with the life you have now, not the life you had before.
God’s Grace for Today
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
God’s grace isn’t just for who you used to be—it’s for who you are right now. It meets you in the middle of your busy schedule, your changing priorities, and your evolving passions.
God isn’t asking us to cling to the past. He’s inviting us to trust Him with the new thing He’s doing in us. That includes letting go of old identities, hobbies, and traits we’ve outgrown—even the ones that were good—so we can fully embrace who we are in Him today.
Turning the Page
I’ve stopped mourning the girl who could spend hours curled up with a book, and I’m starting to celebrate the woman I am now. A woman who still loves stories and learning, even if it looks different.
If you’ve been holding onto a version of yourself that no longer feels true, I want to encourage you to let her go. Not because she wasn’t valuable, but because you are still valuable—right here, right now.
It’s okay to set goals or find new ways to incorporate the things you loved into your life. But first, you have to acknowledge that you’re in a new season—and you don’t have to bring every part of your past with you into it.
God isn’t finished with me, and He’s not finished with you either. Let’s trust Him with the next chapter.
