Some days, we have to remind ourselves, "It's OK to be me." Every day we are comparing ourselves to somebody or something, we can always find fault within ourselves.

Let someone share with us their accomplishments and we begin to look at our life and question, "What have I accomplished?" Let someone start losing weight and we start looking at ourselves saying "I need to lose weight," or we see a trend in fashion or hairstyles, then we begin to change our look. We seem to never be satisfied with who we are.

I think, most of the time, we are in a constant battle because of what's inside of us. We will never be satisfied or content with ourselves or our life until we know who we are in Christ. Our identity comes from God, if we choose to trust Him and accept who He created us to be.

We will never be like someone else. No matter how hard we try, we were not created as duplicates. Sometimes we have to simple say, "It's OK to be me"!

As a woman in ministry, it's easy to compare myself with others. Because of the caliber of people I come into contact with or other women ministers and pastor's wives, I can look at their accomplishments or their lives and begin to feel insecure. I have had many cycles of those feelings.

As a pastor's wife, you feel those expectations, you sense people looking at you and critiquing everything you do. You can even feel that from your husband as a pastor's wife—not that he does it intentionally—but he even feels the pressure to have his wife at a certain level.

After 20 years of being in full-time ministry, I am constantly working at being content with who God created me to be as an individual. My first priorities are as a good wife and a good mother. I try to focus more on that and then trust God for the rest as I continue to grow myself in other areas of my life. It's a choice: "Are you going to measure yourself with everyone else or are you going to be the woman of God He created you to be?"

I want to encourage you today not to tire yourself out chasing other identities, wallowing in insecurities and just stopping for a moment and tell yourself, "It's OK to be me"! God created you for a purpose. Your purpose is not to be someone else but to be who God created you to be. Think about all the people waiting on the other side of your obedience; they need you to be you. You have something very special that God gave to share with others, so don't make the mistake of wearing the mask in ministry and never be all that God wants you to be.

Here are five ways to take off the mask and be who God created you to be:

1. Celebrate your life. Be thankful for all that God has given us!

2. You are the clay in the Potter's hand. God doesn't make mistakes; you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

3. Ask God to show you what your gifts are and activate them—God gave you wonderful gifts to use for His purpose!

4. Stay close to Jesus. He is the only thing that matters.

5. Finish the course—don't go after this or that; stay the course and trust Him in all things!

"We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28, MEV).

My prayers for women is that you will find your confidence in Him, allow God to mold you and shape you into the person He created you to be! God created you unique and special, love who you are and take off the mask!

Along with her husband, Pastor Luis Reyes, Tricia Reyes is the co-founder of The New Church Of Joy in Waukegan, Illinois. She is a blogger, author and helps manage her daughter Madison's (Maddie Rey) Music Ministry. She is a devoted wife and mother to Madison and Matthew and loves the Lord with all her heart! To learn more about Tricia's ministry or to book her for a Women's Event/Conference visit her website at triciareyes.com or thenewchurchofjoy.com.

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