When Your Identity Has Been Hacked

I'll never forget the day my daughter-in-law called to inform me that my blog, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, had been hacked. I rushed to my laptop and was met with a chilling sight: unknown pictures plastered across my pages, accompanied by a foreign language. The remnants of my original site were still there, but my entire livelihood – a decade's worth of stories, milestones, and memories – had been taken over by an identity thief.

As I frantically tried to log in, I realized that my password had been changed and the liars had renamed it as their own. It was as if they'd bulldozed their way into my life, uprooting decades of memories and milestones. In full-on panic mode, my body responded with a visceral reaction: why would someone do this to me? Who could I call to help right this wrong?

I felt violated, angry, helpless, and foolish. I didn't know where to turn. It took months to unravel the violation and devastating impact on the income our family relied on. Identity thieves are crafty, cunning, and quick. They examine our weaknesses and know exactly how to exploit them.

While I've installed safeguards that alert me to fraud, the attacks have continued through the years – but I'm prepared now to fight back. Many of us can relate to that panicked moment when something precious has been stolen. It may not be a blog hack, but perhaps a wallet or social security number. Maybe your Facebook or email account was hijacked, and you found yourself held hostage by deception.

When that occurs, we spend hours, even weeks, alerting people to the fraud. We show multiple forms of proof of who we really are. We track down expenses, close accounts, and shout from the rooftop that's not our true identity. When our identity is finally restored, money returned, systems secured, and passwords reestablished, we regain access to the freedoms and security we had lost. Then our anxiety lifts and relief floods in.

But here's the thing: why don't we put that same effort into exposing Satan's strategies? There are two realms: the seen and the unseen. The physical and the spiritual. Good vs. evil. Jesus reminds us, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10 NIV).

Yet we allow Satan to boss us around. He bullies his way into our hearts and minds, planting seeds of doubt, deception, shame, and inadequacy because his whole desire is to steal our true identity and discount our esteemed value as beloved daughters, image bearers of the Most High God.

Last week, our young adult daughter fell victim to an elaborate identity scam. "You have no idea how believable it was, Mom. They knew years of my personal information. They knew all of my history. I was exhausted and my guard was down."

Torn between rage at the thief and frustration that we so easily fall prey to lies, I realized the difference between my blog hack years ago and our daughter's identity theft: She pleaded for help to fight this battle. In full momma bear mode, I knew how these counterfeiters worked. I understood the enemy's strategy. And I knew that together, we can fight back.

Fighting Back Against Satan's Identity Theft

Are we rooted in the truth of Scripture? Do we have others to come alongside us? Are we stretching our minds by becoming critical thinkers?

All those are necessary to be battle-ready. Our daughter now pays $10 a month to a company that alerts her to fraud. A small price for freedom. Don't we all desire to live in the true freedom that Christ offers?

Then together, let's agree to fight back against Satan's identity theft. Let's stand firm on the Rock of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let's be alert and vigilant, ready to take on whatever battles come our way.