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Trading Faces: Removing the Masks that Hide Your God-Given Identity
A biblical and practical guide on how to replace false identities with the healthy truth
Seeking fulfilment, many Christians turn to identities that promise to give their lives profession, roles as spouse or parent, personality types, even sexuality--anything that can be held up to others as the empowering core of who they are. But when these new labels don’t give them any real foundation for hope, they end up feeling disappointed, directionless, and defeated. Those false identities turn out to be only sand.
John and Angel Beeson have seen this problem again and again in their respective roles as pastor and counselor. And they want searching Christians to know the a fulfilling understanding of self can only be found by rooting one's identity in the unchangeable and nonnegotiable understanding of who we were created to be.
This husband-and-wife team considers ten identities that masquerade as truth and challenge readers to trade those labels for the ones Christ offers. They explain why true identity matters, how our masks can suffocate us, and how substitute identities can become idolatry. They share real struggles from real people. And they offer hope in a comprehensive index of our identities in Christ, both individual and the collective identity of the church.
Seeking fulfilment, many Christians turn to identities that promise to give their lives profession, roles as spouse or parent, personality types, even sexuality--anything that can be held up to others as the empowering core of who they are. But when these new labels don’t give them any real foundation for hope, they end up feeling disappointed, directionless, and defeated. Those false identities turn out to be only sand.
John and Angel Beeson have seen this problem again and again in their respective roles as pastor and counselor. And they want searching Christians to know the a fulfilling understanding of self can only be found by rooting one's identity in the unchangeable and nonnegotiable understanding of who we were created to be.
This husband-and-wife team considers ten identities that masquerade as truth and challenge readers to trade those labels for the ones Christ offers. They explain why true identity matters, how our masks can suffocate us, and how substitute identities can become idolatry. They share real struggles from real people. And they offer hope in a comprehensive index of our identities in Christ, both individual and the collective identity of the church.
248 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2023
9 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 8, 2023
Here’s my endorsement:
We struggle to know who we are outside of the roles, personality traits, or emotional scars we use to identify ourselves. Are we defined by the things we do or the things done to us? Who are we without our vocational wins, parenting successes, or individualistic giftings? In Trading Faces, John and Angela Beeson encourage us to look at who God is so that we can rightly see ourselves in light of our redemption and spiritual adoption. This book has stayed with me, reminding me that what matters most about me is who I am in Christ: I am His. Nothing brings more joy than that.
We struggle to know who we are outside of the roles, personality traits, or emotional scars we use to identify ourselves. Are we defined by the things we do or the things done to us? Who are we without our vocational wins, parenting successes, or individualistic giftings? In Trading Faces, John and Angela Beeson encourage us to look at who God is so that we can rightly see ourselves in light of our redemption and spiritual adoption. This book has stayed with me, reminding me that what matters most about me is who I am in Christ: I am His. Nothing brings more joy than that.
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May 29, 2025Angel and I have been working on this project for the past five years and pray it serves people well as they consider the false identities they might be walking in and the true (and freeing!) identities Christ invites us to step into.
You can check out a free excerpt from the book and take a free quiz to discern what false identities might potentially draw you at thebeehive.live.
Thank you so much for your support.
We just finished recording the audiobook this week (May 2025). So grateful to be able to get it into the ears of those interested soon!
You can check out a free excerpt from the book and take a free quiz to discern what false identities might potentially draw you at thebeehive.live.
Thank you so much for your support.
We just finished recording the audiobook this week (May 2025). So grateful to be able to get it into the ears of those interested soon!
November 6, 2023
What a blessing of a book! So many encouraging and convicting words, many of which were exactly what my heart needed in this season of life.
Just a few of my favorite quotes:
If personality is your bedrock identity, your tendency may be to exhaust yourself as you try to optimize yourself. (80)
Identifying our personality type as our core identity misdirects us not just because it calls us to doing over being, and action over rest, but also because it causes us to misunderstand what God calls us to. My deepest fulfillment comes not from being true to myself but from being obedient to my Shepherd. The Shepherd may even call us to do something that is an apparent mismatch with our personality type. His goal is not our comfort; his goal is our sanctification under his perfect care. His goal is to have us look more and more like him—more loving, more patient, kinder, gentler, and less anxious. (91)
So for us to live in a manner worthy of the calling we have received means something better than just mustering up the effort; it means we have to be who we are. (109)
You’re God’s perfect avocado. (170)
(Yes, John and Angel, I want that last one on a t-shirt!)
Just a few of my favorite quotes:
If personality is your bedrock identity, your tendency may be to exhaust yourself as you try to optimize yourself. (80)
Identifying our personality type as our core identity misdirects us not just because it calls us to doing over being, and action over rest, but also because it causes us to misunderstand what God calls us to. My deepest fulfillment comes not from being true to myself but from being obedient to my Shepherd. The Shepherd may even call us to do something that is an apparent mismatch with our personality type. His goal is not our comfort; his goal is our sanctification under his perfect care. His goal is to have us look more and more like him—more loving, more patient, kinder, gentler, and less anxious. (91)
So for us to live in a manner worthy of the calling we have received means something better than just mustering up the effort; it means we have to be who we are. (109)
You’re God’s perfect avocado. (170)
(Yes, John and Angel, I want that last one on a t-shirt!)
January 20, 2024
Since one of the authors is a friend I would feel really bad if I gave this book anything but a five star rating. Fortunately the book is certainly worthy of one.
We live in a world where we tend to both give ourselves false identities and accept the false identities imposed on us by others. This book does a great job of helping us to see that for those who have placed their faith in Jesus, our identities come from Him. I love how John and Angel have been so transparent in writing about how they have been deceived by false identities in their own lives. Those real life examples really helped me to see some of the false identities I still fall prey to at times.
This is a book that would greatly benefit every disciple of Jesus and I highly recommend it.
We live in a world where we tend to both give ourselves false identities and accept the false identities imposed on us by others. This book does a great job of helping us to see that for those who have placed their faith in Jesus, our identities come from Him. I love how John and Angel have been so transparent in writing about how they have been deceived by false identities in their own lives. Those real life examples really helped me to see some of the false identities I still fall prey to at times.
This is a book that would greatly benefit every disciple of Jesus and I highly recommend it.
January 19, 2024
This book tackles many of the common areas in which we try to find our identity (and therefore our sense of worth and value), such as relationships, career, and ideologies. One by one, the Beesons dismantle each, and replace it with wisdom from Scripture, building an identity grounded in God's truth. You could read this cover to cover, or jump around to the various 'masks' or identities you resonate the most with. The appendix, with its compendium of scriptures stating our true identity, is almost worth the price of the book alone. The Beesons write so gently and beautifully, it's almost like you're in a counselling session with them. I commend this book to anyone struggling with their sense of worth, and look forward to the next Beeson book!
October 17, 2023
My official endorsement of the book:
“Trading Faces is an important book for our cultural moment. John writes as an experienced pastor and Angel as a wise counselor. Together, they expose false identities, leading readers to Christ and the revolutionary new life He offers. John and Angel’s work is biblical, honest, vulnerable, and worshipful. I believe it will help many find freedom and joy in Christ.”
“Trading Faces is an important book for our cultural moment. John writes as an experienced pastor and Angel as a wise counselor. Together, they expose false identities, leading readers to Christ and the revolutionary new life He offers. John and Angel’s work is biblical, honest, vulnerable, and worshipful. I believe it will help many find freedom and joy in Christ.”
December 23, 2023
Real Clarity on Our Identity
Trading Faces was honest. We all struggle to identify who we are to others and to ourselves. This book helps us to figure it out and leads us into the freedom of exchanging superficial identities for the true and real. Who does God say I am, down to the very core of my being? Exchanging what is temporary and temporal for what is eternal brings freedom and peace. John and Angel are excellent guides on the way.
Trading Faces was honest. We all struggle to identify who we are to others and to ourselves. This book helps us to figure it out and leads us into the freedom of exchanging superficial identities for the true and real. Who does God say I am, down to the very core of my being? Exchanging what is temporary and temporal for what is eternal brings freedom and peace. John and Angel are excellent guides on the way.
December 4, 2023
Eye opening book
This book opened some old wounds that I had Covered up in my life. It also made me realize that my worth is in Christ, not my job or status. Thank you for the light of His words to brighten my path.
This book opened some old wounds that I had Covered up in my life. It also made me realize that my worth is in Christ, not my job or status. Thank you for the light of His words to brighten my path.
December 6, 2024
great book
Lots of good insights into Trusting in who we are as a child of God. So great to give up all the false identities.
Lots of good insights into Trusting in who we are as a child of God. So great to give up all the false identities.
April 23, 2024
John and Angel Beeson's book is excellent. It's practical, biblical, and encouraging in tone. It can be particularly hard to achieve a balance between being clear on the Bible's teaching about our fallenness and sin nature, while also being joyful about the hope and freedom that believers can find in Christ. This isn't a self-help book; the Beesons extend no false hope or unrealistic affirmation to those who seek satisfaction apart from Christ. Instead, they explore what it means for the Christian to find his or her identity in Christ, rather than in all the other sources of identity by which we can so easily be deceived.
Trading Faces examines 10 common sources of identity: shame, good works, independence, individuality, desires, marriage, parenthood, ideologies, career, and patriotism. Then the book explains how our true identity is in Christ, by pointing us to the many wonderful truths and promises of God's Word about those who are in Christ.
I highly recommend this book! It will be an encouragement to those who struggle with the fear of man, with their direction in life, with shame and guilt, and a host of other inner conflicts. Five stars!
Trading Faces examines 10 common sources of identity: shame, good works, independence, individuality, desires, marriage, parenthood, ideologies, career, and patriotism. Then the book explains how our true identity is in Christ, by pointing us to the many wonderful truths and promises of God's Word about those who are in Christ.
I highly recommend this book! It will be an encouragement to those who struggle with the fear of man, with their direction in life, with shame and guilt, and a host of other inner conflicts. Five stars!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews