Deeply engrained within the heart of every person is a desire to be known; to be understood and to be able to rest, assured that they are not the only ones in their situation, whatever that may be.
I sense this desire in myself quite often, especially when I am experiencing difficult times. At times, the longing for someone who could relate is stifling, such that in the absence of another person like that, loneliness and fear are the emotions that reign.
It is interesting to me how all of the different industries play this fact to an extreme. Music, movies, and even the very stores we shop in all cater to people’s emotions. Some of the most commonly exploited emotions are loneliness and one’s longing for love. Artists, when they write a song meant for the masses, realize that if they want their piece to be popular, it must be relatable. Think of the entire meme culture: it is built off of being ‘relatable,’ to make one feel understood.
Consider the following song; it is really the epitome of this concept of giving listeners a feeling of being related to. Upon hearing this, it resonated deeply (even though musically, the song is lacking); this is what got me interested in this topic as I realized how this song was playing my emotions. Here is an excerpt from “Numb Little Bug” by Em Beihold:
“Do you ever get a little bit tired of life? Like you're not really happy but you don't wanna die? Like you're hanging by a thread but you gotta survive, 'cause you gotta survive? Like your body's in the room but you're not really there; like you have empathy inside but you don't really care? Like you're fresh outta love but it's been in the air; am I past repair?”
This song has hit #1 on Spotify’s top songs, and has been named by many as “the anthem for 2022.” The reason is because the entire experience of listening to that song makes one feel understood and gives a sense that they are not the only one. However, this fleeting sense of feeling related to will disappear as the song gets old, or as one’s emotions change a little, thus letting emptiness again reign.
Recently, as a result of a chain of events which caused great struggle for me, I have been forced to do a deep search. I was forced to try and find myself; to attempt to find where my identity truly lies. This search to find one’s identity is something which I believe most everyone is forced to do throughout life. And again, it is another emotion that is exploited within the entertainment and shopping industries. There are countless songs designed to relate to this search. And consider how the entire premise of the fashion industry is designed to make one feel as though their identity is found within the latest style.
As Christians, our identity is found within Christ. However, if our search for the truth of ourselves is not directed toward Christ, the search will never end. We will try and find the answer within ourselves; within others, or merely in material goods. But it will never be found, because none of those are changeless. As people change, or the latest style progresses, we find ourselves chasing them but never quite catching up; all the while holding to the hope that in them, our identity will be found and we will be satisfied. But in Christ (who is eternally changeless), there is purpose and identity.
In Christ, our old self is forgotten and we don a new identity. We identify with Christ, and all of our other relationships are built out of how we relate with Him. In Christ, we are never alone. And the beauty of it is also that Christ can relate with our lives, for He was “tempted in all points as we are.” He experienced the pain of losing a friend, He experienced the pain of feeling forsaken. He was despised and rejected; He was scorned and brutally beaten, and then put to death.
If our search is directed toward Him, we will find not just who we are, but we will actually find His identity. And if our identity is found in Him, we have found our home in a solid fortress which cannot be shaken.