Discovering Who God Created You to Be

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." — Jeremiah 1:5

Over the past two workshops, Beautifully Built have journeyed through the process of discovering God's design for our lives. Identity is not something we create—it is something we discover in Christ. Each session built upon the previous one, moving us from understanding God's plan to identifying our gifts and ultimately gaining clarity about our calling.

PART I: PURPOSE

God's Blueprint for Your Life

Key Truth:

God had a plan for your life before you were born.

Scriptures:

• Psalm 139:16

• Jeremiah 1:5

• Ephesians 2:10

What We Learned:

• God knew us before we were born.

• Our days were written in His book before one of them came to be.

• Prayer is where God reveals His plans and purposes.

• Identity begins with understanding who God says we are.

• We cannot fully understand our purpose apart from the One who created us.

Reflection Question:

Who did God make when He made me?

PART II: SPIRITUAL GIFTS

The Tools God Gave You

Key Truth:

God never calls people without equipping them.

Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

• Ephesians 4:11-13

• Romans 12:6-8

• 1 Peter 4:10

What We Learned:

God gives every believer gifts to serve others and build His Kingdom.

Types of Gifts:

Spiritual Gifts

Power from the Holy Spirit

• Wisdom

• Knowledge

• Faith

• Healing

• Miracles

• Prophecy

• Discernment

• Tongues

• Interpretation

Leadership Gifts

Given by Jesus to equip the Church

• Apostle

• Prophet

• Evangelist

• Pastor

• Teacher

Serving Gifts

Grace gifts used to serve others

• Service

• Teaching

• Encouragement

• Giving

• Leadership

• Administration

• Mercy

Reflection Question:

What gifts has God placed inside me?

PART III: CALLING

What Has God Called Me to Build?

Key Truth:

Your calling is the specific way God wants you to use your purpose and gifts to impact the world.

Scriptures:

• Matthew 28:19-20

• Ephesians 4:1

• Romans 11:29

What We Learned:

• Every believer has a calling.

• Calling is bigger than a career.

• Calling is about partnership with God's Kingdom.

• God chooses people for assignments.

• Purpose reveals why you exist.

• Gifts reveal how you're equipped.

• Calling reveals what God wants you to build.

Reflection Question:

What assignment has God entrusted to me?

Below is an excerpt from my book, Beautifully Broken, where I share my journey from uncertainty to calling. This chapter captures the process of surrender, transformation, and discovering my identity in Christ—a journey that took me from being unclear about my future to confidently walking in God's calling for my life.

After facing a few battles and overcoming the fear of being chosen, I finally started catching my stride. I wasn’t just surviving anymore—I was becoming. The old me, the one who conformed to the patterns of this world, was being transformed by the renewing of my mind. And it showed. The woman who once chased culture now operated under the economy of Heaven. As I continued walking with God, I came to understand something profound: I wasn’t just saved from something. I was saved for something.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." — Ephesians 2:10

That truth wrecked me. It also came with a lot of loss. For years, I thought I had my life figured out. I earned the degrees—bachelor's, master's, PhD. I was smart. Qualified. I thought I'd become a tenured professor, retire with honor, and live a safe life. That was the plan. Safe. Predictable. Secure.

But during prayer one day, God whispered, "That was the foundation—not the fulfillment." Yes, I was a teacher. But I wasn’t created just to teach in classrooms. By the end of summer 2024, I stepped away from academia. The career I had invested so much into could no longer contain the calling God had placed on my life. I stepped out of the boat and into the unknown but would I have enpenough faith to walk on water.

We are all saved for a purpose. After leaving higher education, I began to uncover hidden gifts I didn’t know I had. Suddenly, everything I had walked through made sense. The Holy Spirit gave me wisdom to understand the pain, trauma, and sinful nature I was rescued from.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search it out." — Proverbs 25:2

That’s when I realized—Jesus didn’t just save me, He recruited me.

To co-labor with Heaven.To preach the gospel with my life.To be His hands and feet in the earth.To help others find the same freedom I found.

It wasn’t because I was perfect. It was because I was willing. I said yes to the unknown. God led me to ministry, and the first step was school—ministry school.

A year after earning my PhD, I left education to be trained for a new mission. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t fully understand why I felt such a strong pull or how I would sustain myself. Obedience meant resigning from my job and enrolling in ministry school. And God made it clear: during the program, I wouldn’t be working or earning an income. I would rely solely on what He had already provided. That shook me. I had always taken pride in being a self-sufficient Black woman. Now God was asking me to let go of everything I depended on to discover that He was the only thing I truly needed. He didn’t rip those things from me. I had to release them. Choosing God was no longer theoretical—it was practical. Real faith. Real trust. And every time I obeyed, God took me deeper. Closer. Higher.

Was it easy? No. It came with pruning and dying to self. But on the other side? Glory. Favor. Intimacy. I saw His face more clearly. I felt His heart more deeply. And He trusted me with more. That’s the beauty of partnering with Heaven: it’s not just a mission. It’s a relationship. Through revelation from the Holy Spirit I moved from called to chosen and entered into progressing. During ministry school, I learned more about myself—my purpose, my calling, and what it truly means to be a faithful servant of the Lord. God began opening my eyes to demonic patterns—cycles of dysfunction and deception, especially in those closest to me. It wasn’t random. It was generational.

The same spirits that once held me captive, I now saw operating in others.

And I’m not naturally confrontational. I avoid drama. I don’t go looking for a fight. But when I told God, "Here I am, send me," I unknowingly enlisted in war. Not against people—but against darkness.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." — Ephesians 6:12

God didn’t just show me the enemy’s plans—He gave me strategy to dismantle them. Holy Spirit gave me wisdom, insight, and understanding to break the enemy’s grip on families, relationships, and minds. It wasn’t just discernment. It was assignment.

"See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." — Jeremiah 1:10

I had to learn how to wage war with compassion because these were God’s people.

It’s an honor to be trusted like this. But it’s also heavy, confronting darkness isn’t glamorous. It takes courage, obedience, and deep intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

I’ve interceded through tears for people I love—friends, family, even enemies. I’ve prayed against deception, begged God for breakthrough, and cried out for lives.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." — 2 Corinthians 10:4

I’ve been woken up at 3 a.m. with someone’s name burning in my heart. I’ve been led to fast, to intercede, to speak truth even when it made me uncomfortable. And still, I count it a privilege. Not because it’s easy—but because God trusts me to love His people enough to fight for them.

In this season I had to learn how to carry God’s love and authority. This calling is violent in the spirit but gentle in delivery. It’s confrontational but compassionate. God continues to teach me how to handle people with tenderness while handling demons with truth.

This is just a small snippet of my story. The beautiful thing is that all of our stories are different, and God is still writing yours. He is continually revealing who He created you to be, what He has placed inside of you, and the unique assignment He has prepared for your life.

Below is a diagram I developed that has been helpful for many of my mentees and students as they seek clarity about their identity, purpose, gifts, calling, and assignment. My prayer is that it serves as a practical tool to help you reflect, pray, and partner with God as He reveals the next chapter of your story.

THE IDENTITY FORMATION FUNNEL

Purpose → Calling → Assignment

This diagram represents my journey of discovery.

PURPOSE

The broadest level.

Purpose answers: "Why was I created?"

Every believer shares a common purpose:

• To know God

• To love God

• To glorify God

• To advance His Kingdom

CALLING

The next level of clarity.

Calling answers: "How does God want me to serve His Kingdom?"

Examples:

• Teacher

• Business owner

• Pastor

• Missionary

• Mentor

• Counselor

• Parent

• Leader

Many people may share a similar calling.

ASSIGNMENT

The most specific level.

Assignment answers: "What is God asking me to do right now?"

Examples:

• Lead a small group

• Start a ministry

• Write a book

• Serve on a mission trip

• Mentor a student

• Launch a business

• Teach a class

Assignments can change with seasons, but purpose remains constant.

Putting It All Together

Purpose

Why you exist.

Gifts

What God gave you.

Calling

How you serve.

Assignment

What God is asking you to do right now.

When purpose, gifts, calling, and assignment align, we begin walking in the fullness of who God created us to be.

Final Challenge

It's time to get serious about the reason God chose you and the work He prepared for you long before you were born.

Part III of the Identity Formation Workshop

📅 Tuesday, June 15th

🕖 7:00 PM EST

email Beautifullybuiltbygod@gmail.com for Zoom link

I am so excited to continue this journey with you and help you gain greater clarity, confidence, and direction for the season ahead.

See you Tuesday, Beauties! 💕

Erika Michelle