Still Becoming: Finding Purpose and Identity
Becoming isn’t a one-time event. It’s not the moment you finally have it all figured out or the day you suddenly arrive at perfection. Becoming is a process. Sometimes slow, sometimes messy, but always unfolding. It’s the quiet, faith-filled work of allowing God to shape us into who He created us to be, even when fear, doubt, or old wounds try to hold us back.
I’ve come to realize that this journey isn’t about striving for some polished version of myself; it’s about learning to walk in grace while still unfinished. And maybe you’ve felt that too: the tension of knowing you’re not where you used to be, but also not yet where you long to be.
In this reflection, I want to invite you into that middle space with me. Together we’ll explore the wrestle of identity, the raw questions we carry, and the gentle shifts that remind us we are still becoming. Because the truth is, God isn’t waiting for us to be perfect before He calls us forward. He meets us here, in the Wilderness of Becoming.
The Tension of Becoming
There’s a strange tension in becoming. On one hand, you sense the pull toward more, the whisper that God has planted something within you that’s still unfolding. On the other, you feel the weight of where you are right now; the habits that don’t change as quickly as you’d like, the fears that still rise up when you thought you had already conquered them, the quiet voice that says, “Maybe this is just who I’ll always be.”
I’ve lived in that tension. I’ve told myself I’d finally get disciplined tomorrow, that I’d start fresh on Monday, that this time I’d stick with the routine or the habit that would “fix me.” And yet, more often than I’d like to admit, I’ve found myself slipping back into old patterns, frustrated that I couldn’t seem to sustain the changes I longed for.
That’s the hard part of personal transformation. The becoming process rarely looks like the straight, upward climb we imagine. It feels more like a winding wilderness path; forward, backward, stumbling, pausing, and sometimes even sitting down in the dirt, unsure if you can take another step.
But here’s what I’m learning: that tension doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. The struggle is part of the process. It’s the place where God’s grace meets us, not at the polished end result, but in the messy middle where we still feel like we don’t have it all together.
Wrestling with Identity and Worth
One of the hardest parts of becoming is confronting the questions of identity that rise to the surface. Who am I, really? Who am I when I’m not achieving, performing, or keeping it all together? Who am I when I keep stumbling over the same struggles I thought I should have outgrown by now?
I’ve asked myself those questions more times than I can count. And if I’m honest, I don’t always like the answers I hear in my own head. Sometimes the voice that shows up is harsh, whispering lies that I’m not enough, that I’ll never change, that I’m falling short of who God created me to be.
That’s the tug-of-war of identity: on one side, the truth of Scripture that says I am chosen, loved, and called with purpose; on the other, the daily battle with my own insecurities, doubts, and past failures. Becoming forces me to face those contradictions head-on.
And maybe that’s what makes it so uncomfortable. It’s not just about breaking bad habits or chasing new goals, it’s about unearthing the messages I’ve internalized about my worth. It’s about noticing the gap between who I say I am in Christ and who I believe myself to be in the quiet of my own heart.
The Wilderness of Becoming brings all of that into the light. And while it’s painful to sit with, it’s also the very place God does His deepest work.
Gentle Shifts in Perspective
What if Becoming isn’t about suddenly erasing every fear or flaw, but about learning to walk with them in the light of God’s grace? What if the very messiness we’re so quick to shame in ourselves is actually the ground where God is shaping us most deeply?
I’ve started to notice that becoming doesn’t look like the picture-perfect transformation I once imagined. It looks more like surrender; laying down my need to have it all figured out and choosing instead to trust that God is at work in the unseen.
Scripture reminds us that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). The word “workmanship” means something crafted, formed, or brought into being by someone’s hands. In other words, you are God’s work of art. His masterpiece. Carefully created with intentionality, beauty, and purpose.
Here’s the deeper weight of that:
It reminds us that identity begins with God, not our performance. We’re not defined by our failures, our timelines, or our insecurities; we are defined first as something God Himself has crafted.
It also carries the sense of beauty and uniqueness. Just like no two works of art are the same, no two lives are the same. Becoming, then, isn’t about comparing our journey to someone else’s.
And Paul ties it directly to purpose: created to do good works, meaning that God shaped us with intentionality. Our Becoming is tethered to the good He’s already prepared for us to walk in.
And that perspective changes everything. When we hold that verse inside the tension of becoming, it reframes the inner battle. Instead of measuring myself by how far I have to go, I can remember that God is already present in who I am becoming. Instead of labeling myself by my failures, I can lean into the fact that He calls me beloved. Instead of despising the process, I can begin to see it as holy ground. A place where grace keeps meeting me again and again.
Maybe becoming isn’t about rushing to the finish line at all. Maybe it’s about slowing down enough to notice that God is shaping us in ways we can’t yet see.
A Reflection for Your Becoming
Sometimes the most powerful step in Becoming isn’t doing more, it’s pausing long enough to ask the right questions. Reflection opens space for God to reveal what we may not see in ourselves.
Here’s a journaling prompt you can sit with today:
Where in your life have you been measuring your worth by performance, timelines, or comparison?
How does it change your perspective to remember that you are God’s workmanship, His carefully crafted masterpiece, still in process but already full of purpose?
Take time with these questions. You don’t need to have perfect answers. Maybe you jot down a few thoughts in your journal, or maybe you just sit with them in prayer. The goal isn’t to fix yourself, it’s to remember who you already are in Christ, and to give Him room to shape the places still unfolding.
Moving Forward with Grace
Becoming isn’t about forcing yourself into a version of perfection you can’t sustain. It’s about walking forward with grace, one small step at a time.
For me, that often means lowering the pressure I put on myself. Instead of demanding overnight transformation, I ask: What is one small thing I can do today that reflects the woman I’m becoming? Sometimes it’s choosing prayer over scrolling. Sometimes it’s showing up for a commitment even when I don’t feel like it. Other days, it’s simply resting and allowing myself to remember that God isn’t measuring me by my productivity.
The truth is, grace makes room for progress, not perfection. Scripture reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). That means you don’t have to finish the work on your own. God Himself is committed to the process of your Becoming.
So whether your steps feel big or barely noticeable, they matter. Every choice to trust God, every moment you lean on grace instead of shame, every small act of faith… It’s all part of the journey forward!
Conclusion: You’re Still Becoming
If you take nothing else from this reflection, let it be this: you are still becoming. You don’t have to have it all figured out, and you don’t have to do it alone. God’s workmanship in you is not finished — and the very fact that you’re reading this, seeking clarity and courage, is proof that you’re still in motion.
The wilderness seasons, the uncertainty, the slow progress — they are not wasted. They’re the very soil where God is shaping you into the woman you were created to be. And every small, grace-filled step matters.
Take the next step, even if you can't see the whole path. Trust that you have everything you need for this part of the journey. And remember that the wilderness, as challenging as it is, is also where we find our strength.
Keep walking forward. Keep moving toward your dreams. Because the only way that you fail is if you stop. You're not lost. You're becoming.
May your journey through the Wilderness be one of Discovery, Growth, and Profound Transformation.
If you're looking for tools to support you on your journey, I've created a collection of guided journals and resources designed to help you reflect, reset, and realign as you move through your Wilderness season. Each one was thoughtfully crafted to meet you where you are, with compassion, clarity, and encouragement for the road ahead.
Take a moment to visit the Wilderness Journey's-End Shop. You might just find something that speaks to your season and helps light the next step of your path.
Remember, no matter how uncertain the path may seem, there is always a way through.
Over on my YouTube channel, I’m sharing more about this journey of Becoming — unpacking it with stories, scripture, and encouragement you can carry into your own life.
And if you’re ready to get a clearer picture of where you are right now, I’ve created a free Comprehensive Life Assessment to help you pause, reflect, and see the progress you might be missing.
You were never meant to wander forever. There is a path forward — and it begins today.