Identity & Formation: When Your Title Is Not Your Identity

Lately, I’ve been thinking about identity and formation.

I’m realizing how easily our identity can become attached to what we do instead of who we are. My mind went back to when I was a little girl.The people closest to me rarely called me Arlene. My friends and family called me Leni. My dad called me Lena. One of my cousins even called me Bert because she thought I looked like my Aunt Bertha.

Almost no one called me Arlene.

Except my teachers.

And as I thought about that recently, I realized something.

My teachers didn't have a personal relationship with me. To them, I was simply the name on the roster: Arlene.

But the people who knew me intimately had names for me that reflected relationship.

Then I grew up.

I got married and became Mrs. Sumpter. My position changed, so the way people addressed me changed.

But I was still me.

Yet, life kept forming me.

• I became a mom.

• A college graduate.

• A soccer player.

• A flight attendant.

• A worship leader.

• A pastor.

• An author.

• A coach.

• A speaker.

• A master's degree graduate.

• Then, Dr. Arlene.

• And now, a professor.

Each season brought another title. Each role revealed another part of my life and reflected another stage of my formation. Yet I've noticed something:

I am still the same person, but people see me differently depending upon the role through which they encounter me.

Some people still see the little girl they knew and call me Leni.

Some see a pastor.

Some see a teacher.

Some see a professor and call me Dr. Arlene.

But I've come to understand that titles are not identity.

They are roles shaped by formation.

A degree is an accomplishment.A position is an assignment.A title may acknowledge responsibility.A platform may give us influence.

But none of those things can tell us who we fundamentally are.

And that distinction matters.

Because when our identity becomes rooted in our roles, we begin living under the constant pressure to perform.

Am I still valuable if I no longer have the position?

Who am I when the season ends?

What happens when people stop calling my title?

What happens when God asks me to release something that once defined me?

Those are important questions because formation never stops.

Life will keep giving us new assignments. People will identify us by what we accomplish, how we serve them, or the role in which they know us.

But our roles were never intended to carry the weight of our identity.

My true identity is this:

I am a daughter of God.

Before professor, pastor, author, coach, speaker, wife, mother—or any other title—I belong to Him.

And when my identity is rooted in Christ, I don't have to earn through performance what God has already given me through relationship.

I can live from acceptance instead of striving for it.

So as God continues to form you through education, motherhood, ministry, leadership, success, disappointment, open doors and even closed ones, don't lose yourself in your titles.

Let your responsibilities grow.

Let your influence expand.

Let your formation deepen.

Just don't let your identity move.

Because before the degrees...

before the ministry...

before the platforms...

before the accomplishments...

before anyone ever called your name with a title...

God knew your name.

You were already known by God.

Already loved by God.

Already chosen by God.

Root your identity there.

Your SG Moment

What title, role, achievement, or responsibility have you unintentionally allowed to become part of your identity?

And if that title disappeared tomorrow, would you still know who you are?

SG Moments | Faith. Leadership. Life. Purpose.

Dr. Arlene Sumpter