A New Year, A New Path: Trusting God With Who We Are

Letting Go of the Past and Embracing the Identity God Has Given Us

As we step into a new year, we often reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re headed. We make resolutions, set goals, and attempt to shed the weight of past mistakes. But beyond the surface-level changes—beyond the to-do lists and self-improvement efforts—there is a deeper transformation calling to us.

At Bostwick Lake Congregational UCC, our service on January 12, 2025, focused on renewal through faith. The theme of the month, hope, set the stage for exploring how we can embrace a fresh start—not just in our habits but in our very identity as children of God.

Through scripture, reflection, and the words of philosopher Jacob Needleman, we explored an essential question that has shaped human thought for centuries: Who am I? And in asking that, do we also begin to ask—What is God?

Baptism as a New Beginning

Our scripture readings from Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 and Acts 8:14-17 remind us that baptism is more than just a ritual. It is a symbol of transformation, a moment when we allow God to wash away our past and set us on a new path.

John the Baptist tells the people, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

This baptism of fire represents purification, renewal, and spiritual awakening. It is about stripping away the things that do not serve us—our ego, our fears, our false identities—and stepping into the truth of who we were created to be.

Too often, we go through the motions of faith while clinging to old patterns, old labels, and old fears. We declare a new year, yet we hold on to last year’s baggage. We proclaim faith, yet we struggle to let go of doubt.

Baptism is an invitation to let go. It is an opportunity to step forward into a life shaped by grace, not guilt—by purpose, not past mistakes.

The Inner Journey: Finding Our Authentic Self

As part of our sermon, we reflected on the teachings of Jacob Needleman, a philosopher who spent his life seeking deeper truths about identity, faith, and the divine.

Needleman describes a pivotal moment in his life when he asked a Zen master, “What is self?”

The response was, “Who is asking?”

That moment changed everything for him. It forced him to confront a truth we often ignore: We live much of our lives on the surface. We define ourselves by titles, achievements, or failures. We assume we know who we are, but do we really?

If we strip away our jobs, degrees, possessions, and even past mistakes, what remains?

What Needleman—and many great theologians—have come to understand is this: We are not defined by our accomplishments or failures. We are not merely our thoughts or emotions. Deep within us, beneath all the layers of ego and expectation, is something greater—our authentic self, created in the image of God.

Why This Matters for Our Faith

When Jesus stepped into the water to be baptized, he did not need forgiveness—but he did it as an example for us. And when he emerged, the heavens opened, and a voice proclaimed, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well pleased.”

That same voice speaks to each of us.

No matter how broken we feel, we are beloved. No matter how much we have stumbled, we are claimed by God. No matter how lost we have been, we are never too far from grace.

Baptism is not about perfection—it is about identity. It is God’s way of saying, “You are mine. I have called you by name. You are not defined by what you have done but by who I created you to be.”

Applying This to Our Daily Lives

The start of a new year is a perfect time to live into the truth of our faith.

Let go of the past. Just as we replace an old calendar with a new one, we are called to leave behind the burdens that no longer serve us. Mistakes are forgiven. Regrets are wiped clean. Write down something from last year that you are struggling to let go of. Pray over it, release it, and trust that God has already erased it.

Seek authenticity in your faith. Are we just going through the motions of faith, or are we genuinely seeking a deeper relationship with God? Spend five minutes in silent reflection each day and ask yourself, “Who am I in God’s eyes? What is He calling me to become?”

Live as one who is beloved. If we truly believe that we are God’s children, then our lives should reflect that truth. That means speaking with kindness, acting with purpose, and loving without fear. Each morning, remind yourself of your true identity—not as an employee, a parent, or a student, but as a beloved child of God.

A New Year, A New You

As we begin 2025, let’s not settle for surface-level resolutions. Instead, let’s embrace a deeper transformation—one that comes from trusting God, releasing our burdens, and stepping into our authentic self.

May this year be one of renewal, faith, and hope—not because of what we accomplish, but because of who we are in Christ.

Let’s step into this year not just as who we were, but as who we are called to be.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, and you are mine.
(Isaiah 43:1)