"Thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1 Claims upon Identity What things stake a claim upon my identity? The Cambridge Dictionary explains, "If you stake a claim to something, you say or show that you have a right to it and that it should [emphasis added] belong to you." It can mean serious business to stake a claim on something, but to make that claim stick you have to convince others that it truly is yours. It only "should" be yours until others are on board, recognizing your claim as valid. There are many roles and traits that would stake a claim upon my identity. Some are good (wife, mother, loyal), some are not (insecure, prideful). Good or bad, these things can create an overwhelming sense of battle raging as they seek to solidify their claim. However, thinking of those things as only trying