DISCLAIMER: Guided by Grace does not own the rights to this song, “Known” by Tauren Wells.
Are you living out the story God wants to tell in your life?
Names define the narrative God is trying to tell in our lives. Names are quite important, that is why I enjoy reading the genealogies in Scripture. You will never know where you’re going if you have no idea where you come from. Names are vital to who we are, what we are, and how we get to where we’re supposed to be. Historically, names have been a type of prophecy; names tell the future of a person for good and bad. If you want to know where you’re going and who you are, take a look at what you answer to.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Ruth; one, it is the perfect example of names defining narratives, and secondly, I love the way the story swings from one extreme in the beginning to another at the end. This swing illustrates the story of the faithfulness of God and His people. Ruth opens up with a man from Bethlehem (“the house of bread”) named Elimelech (“my God is kind”). He is married to a woman named Naomi (“pleasant”) and they have two sons strangely named Mahlon (“the sick one”) and Chilion (“the dead one” or “finished one”). There is a famine in the house of bread and this Israelite family has to move to the enemy territory of Moab to survive. In time Elimelech dies and the two sons marry sisters—Orpah (“fawn”) and Ruth (“companion”)— but in time the two sons of Naomi die. It seems like God’s kindness to this family has run out and this pleasant story has taken a turn for the worst. Naomi changes her name, the narrative of her life to Marah (“bitter”) because she feels God has exchanged His kindness for bitterness. Have you ever been there? Sometimes it’s fine to feel as though your identity has changed. Many of us know the rest of the story—God restores this family and the story that began with traumatic loss ends with the reminder of the love of God in the gift that is King David (“the one loved by God”).
In the story of Ruth everyone plays their part perfectly. Naomi is not shy to feel how she feels about how her life has gone down. Feelings are neither right or wrong, but they are real. Her story is bitter. There does not seem to be any hope left for this old woman, but God not only redeems people, He’s powerful enough to redeem time. Naomi and Ruth are both restored because they followed the narrative of their story. Naomi also remembers where she comes from since she leaves Moab as soon as she hears God has restored Bethlehem from famine. That is the positive side of living out one’s name. When we are in line with God’s will, we will live out the story He has placed us here to tell. God’s story is one that is filled with reminders of His faithfulness in light of hopelessness. Ruth is about losing and finding, or re-finding. God’s kindness was lost in the beginning but God not only blessed this family with a child—Obed—these faithful women are the ancestors of King David. These women found God’s kindness again by being faithful to who He called them to be, even in the midst of an identity crisis like Naomi experienced.
God will be kind to you again.
Moving on from Ruth there is also some negative examples of people living out their name to perfection. One of my least favorite parts of Scripture is the book of Esther. I see why it is included in the Bible. but I say this with as much bias as I can have: I feel we would’ve been good with 65 books. (Or throw in the books of Maccabees? Just my two cents.) There are quite a few reasons I’m not too fond of this story, but we’ll stick to the name theme for now. Esther plays her part too well and she does so at the risk of damaging others. The name Esther means “hidden”and she hides too much. And too well. Like Naomi she suffers from identity crisis, but unlike Naomi she forgets who she is and where she comes from. Esther is an avoider. When she sees conflict, she runs. When she became aware of the plight of the Jews she initially chose herself over her own people. Esther is the type of person to avoid and call it faith. Esther… sweetheart… it doesn’t take much faith to do what comes to you naturally. Esther, where are you? Why did you give up on that dream? Why did you let that blog die? Why do you worry and teeter on hopelessness about the very thing God gave you the voice to confront, yet you stay silent? Why do you follow every influencer and trend when we don’t need more of them, Esther, we need you. Unfortunately, Esther is a person who sees a cycle and initially allows it to continue. Every Esther needs a Mordecai, not enablers who feed their defense mechanism of avoidance, but someone who reminds her that God has not given her a voice for her not to use it. Mordecai is the person who calls Esther to break the cycle. And I love what Mordecai warns Esther with: “If you don’t do what you were meant to do, someone else will.” God always has another. Sorry, but not sorry, Beyoncé, there is no one on Earth that is irreplaceable.
The only limit God has is a Savior; there is only one of Him.
Esther doesn’t operate in who she is meant to be until she remembers where she came from and who she is. Esther is a Jew. She’s a daughter of God. But most importantly, her birth name was not Esther, it was Hadassah (“myrtle tree”). Who changed your name, Esther? Who changed who you were supposed to be? Who told you you weren’t worthy, so now you’ve lost your voice? Who told you that you were unworthy of being loved, so now you hide? Where does your identity crisis come from? Where humans messed up in Genesis was listening to voices other than God’s about who they were.
What other voices have we been listening to?
Myrtle trees are the symbol of God’s restoration to His people. Esther’s purpose is restoration. If she continued to hide behind her prestige and give in to her avoidance, the Jews in the Persian Empire would have gone extinct. Esther, remember who you are. You are not what you’re trying to become. God has placed you where you are because He wants you to be the difference. Though I’m not the biggest fan of the book of Esther, I appreciate her for following counsel that told her to do what was opposite of what she always did. It takes faith to step out of avoidance and approach the king, risking your life. It takes faith to use your voice and call out Haman as the guilty one. Maybe things are still the same because we don’t do anything different? I appreciate that Esther overcame her avoidance because people who suffer from avoidance believe they are in a perpetual season of waiting. It’s tough to discern the time to act when you’re afraid. Esther, your opportunity to break the cycle has been in front of you the entire time. What are we waiting for? Esther finally remembers that she is more than a queen. We have a habit of stopping here, but what good is it to be a queen when you don’t know how or when to use your power to fulfill your purpose? She is Hadassah. She is a myrtle tree. She is a restorer. Esther, when she is living the story God called her to, restores things. She brings hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, laughter to those who are mourning. Myrtles are evergreens that follow watercourses. In other words, myrtles only fulfill their purpose when they’re in sync with what gives them life. Stay in sync, Esther Hadassah. How can you trust that things will be different? Be the difference. Do what’s different than what you’ve always done. Live out the true story of who you are.
So what’s in a name?
Who you are. Your identity. The story God wants to tell in your life. Our decisions determine if we live out the story.
Ask God to say your name and define the story you were put here on Earth to tell. He is the God who knows your name. He knows your story and how it will end. Faith is action, not inaction. Whatever God is calling you to, fulfill it and watch the narrative fall in place with what God is trying to tell.
We are fully known and loved by Him.
Until next time, continue to stay guided by grace,
Tra
Guided by Grace 