Becoming Self-Aware: Our Journey to Real Identity

From Religious Pressure to Kingdom Freedom

Hey everyone—we’re Brett and Marie, and this is the story of identity we wish someone told us years ago.

We believed we were living the “Christian life.” Church attendance, small groups, checking the boxes. But that wasn’t our identity. Deep down, we sensed it: there had to be more.

And then… we got married.

Two weeks of bliss. Then all hell broke loose—literally.

The warfare wasn’t just theoretical; it hit our home, our minds, our marriage. Depression crept in. Suicidal thoughts surfaced without warning. Spiritual attacks we had no framework for left us wondering, Are we going crazy? Is this just us?

We did what we were taught—“Just focus on Jesus.”
But we already were. And it wasn’t enough.

When the Church Model Failed, God Stepped In

In our confusion, God began to reveal something powerful:

We weren’t broken.
We weren’t failing.
We were advancing into a new identity—a Kingdom identity.

Marriage wasn’t just a relationship upgrade. It was a spiritual multiplication. Two became one, and that new “one” became a powerful threat to darkness. And with that advancement came warfare we weren’t prepared for.

The Warfare Wasn’t a Sign to Retreat—It Was a Call to Mature

We faced a choice:

Retreat: Maybe leadership isn’t for us.
Grow Stagnant: Stay stuck in the cycles of confusion, fear, and spiritual exhaustion.

But the Kingdom way is neither. The only way forward is to advance.

The Turning Point: Accountability and Identity

We stopped trying to fix each other.
We stopped waiting for circumstances to change before we found peace.

Instead, we took ownership of our own freedom.
We pressed in to hear God for ourselves, to ask Him who He says we are.

And in that secret place, something shifted. We discovered our true names, our real callings, and the authority we had as sons and daughters of the King.

Are You Caught in the Trauma Loop?

If you’ve ever felt like you’re walking in circles—facing the same battles, hitting the same emotional walls—know this:

That’s not just life. That’s a spiritual loop trying to keep you from stepping into your Promised Land.

But the good news is… God wants to lead you out.

3 Ways to Break the Cycle and Step into Kingdom Identity:

Submit to the Holy Spirit.
Sit with Him. Ask: “Lord, what old mindsets and habits do I need to leave behind to grow with You?”
Stop Trying to Be a Spiritual Toddler.
You’re not meant to stay stuck in immaturity. Take responsibility for your own spiritual life.
Remember: The Father is Raising You to Inherit.
You’re called to grow into a mature son or daughter—one who carries the authority and freedom of the Kingdom everywhere you go.

This is our ongoing journey. And if you’re reading this, we believe God is inviting you into it, too.

Drop a comment below and tell us—what’s the next step God is calling you to take?

Watch this discussion here: www.youtube.com/@brettmariehansen

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