Have you ever caught yourself saying, “that’s just the way I am.”? Maybe you lose your temper for a moment. Maybe you find yourself rarely finishing a project. Maybe your patience with your kids or your spouse isn’t what it should be. In the moment of frustration, you find yourself justifying your actions with those words, “that’s just the way I am.” In other words, you deal with it. I can’t change the way I react. “If you don’t like, too bad because…’ it’s just the way I am.’”
But there’s something rather “telling” with that phrase. It’s declaring to anyone who will listen to you that you can’t, you won’t, or you don’t want to change your behavior…even if it wrong or hurtful. Sounds a little arrogant to me and I’ve said it before.
But would you consider something? Consider the phrase, “I am.” When we use it about ourselves, it’s egocentric and in this case, is a convenient excuse not to change. But when we find the two-word phrase in the scriptures, it refers to the ultimate description of God. In Exodus 3, He declares Himself “I AM”, the special name for God. In the New Testament, Jesus declares Himself, the “I AM” throughout the Gospels. “I am the bread of Life.” “I am the Good Shepherd.” “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” So, let’s leave the “I AM” to God and as a Christ-follower, let’s describe our identity this way…”I am a child of God.” Let’s ask the true “I AM” to transform our behavior.