Identity Crisis: Where Do I Go from Here?

By Tristan J. Tolbert

I wrote this book to a younger version of myself. There have been countless days where I have questioned my sanity, individuality, spirituality, faith, purpose, and destiny. I put my trust in people who failed me. I believed in people who did not believe in themselves. I have cried and wanted to give up. But God has been faithful. Just when I thought it was over... God stepped in right on time and delivered me out of my pit. I pray the testimonies I share with you will enable and strengthen your relationship with God. It is not up to us individually to be who God created us to become. But we are many members but one body in Christ!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664204928

Tristan J. Tolbert

Tristan Tolbert was born and raised in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He grew up running through the halls of the Historic Virginia Street Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. M. O. Fort. Tristan later moved to Montgomery Alabama where he was licensed as a gospel minister at Hutchinson Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. G.W.C. Richardson Jr. on June 17, 2012. After graduating from Robert E Lee High School, he moved to Birmingham, Alabama to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While in Birmingham, he found his beloved college church, Lively Stone Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Rodney George. This is also where he was ordained into the gospel ministry on September 13, 2015. Today, Tristan is an associate minister at the New Home Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Lee B. Walker Jr. Tristan is also a student at Auburn University at Montgomery pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in Social Science/Political Science. Lastly, Tristan is the Youth Adviser for the Montgomery Antioch District Association where he oversees the Youth Council, Youth Banquet, Youth 5th Sunday Fellowship, and countless other Youth worship/community opportunities.

Book preview

Introduction

We have all encountered a place where life is between a rock and a hard place. Where it seems as if things go from bad to worse to incomprehensible. Our thoughts scatter to the point where we begin to question where God is in the midst of our troubles, circumstances, trials, tribulations, and distress is. If God is real, then why is all of this happening to me.

I have been in a place where I’ve asked God… I’ve done this for you, and I’ve done that for you but why does this confuse me, frustrate me, and even cause me to lose my sanity? But we have begun to ask the wrong question. I have learned that God does his best work in the middle of a troubled valley. It is in valley and the mountains, where God tests our very faith. If we only had good days, how would we know that God can turn our cloudy day’s into sunshine? If we have never been sick, how could ever know that God can heal every disease? If we have never cried ourselves to sleep, how could we ever know that God can wipe all of our tears? If we never had our heart broken into pieces, how could we ever know that God is a heart fixer and a mind regulator?

God allows us to go through midnight to understand that weeping may endure but for a night, but Joy will come in the morning. If you are going through a hard patch in life, my prayer for you is for you to reconnect with the one who is able to keep you, love you, sustain you, deliver you, hold you, and even care for you.

Father in the name of Jesus I come to you in the midst of a generation who has lost their connection to you. Father I pray that we go back to the old landmark and find that you were the same yesterday, today, and forever more. God, I pray that you continue to keep and watch over us we go through our various trials and tribulations and trusting you through the midst of it all. God remove anything and anyone who is deterring us from who you created us to be and begin to transform us into the creation we need to be to carry out your Word! It is in Jesus name I declare, Amen

Self-Worth

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H aving pride means that you hold yourself to higher standard and refuse to be belittled, degraded, and dethroned. Being born in your skin is not something you choose but something you begin to love about yourself. When God created you, he made you unlike any other. The Word says in Psalm 139:14, I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Countless people cannot and sometimes are unwilling to understand you and wonder why you express yourself the way that you do. It is simply because they are not you. Some individuals even want to be you. The great thing is…. you know your worth. I know in your past you may have allowed people and places to use you, put you down, and cast you aside. That is the past. You cannot change that. What you can do is wake up every morning acknowledging that your time, your presence, your smile, your destiny, is worth more than anyone can ever imagine. Take time out today to understand that you are worth more than what you have allowed of others. God created you for a reason, a purpose, and a divine plan. Do not let the world tell you any different.