We All Have the Same Name

I had every intention of writing this blog post about the beautiful and simple story that happened yesterday. Which I will share momentarily. But I have to admit that after it happened, my joy was hesitant and pushed down by defeat and doubt rather than overflowing with gratitude like it should have been. My heart was focused on so many other issues before me, that I fought through the temptation to overlook God's clear "I love you" whisper and keep my focus fixed on bad news and fear.

When God makes a promise and a leading so evident before your nose, it's quite shocking, confusing, and plain frustrating when something gets in its' way. Whether that roadblock is a health issue, a tragedy, or a regret from your past, it can immediately steal your attention and cause you to doubt God's promise.

But all throughout Scripture, a picture is being painted of faith... of God's promises being fulfilled despite the most impossible and hopeless of circumstances to reach that promise. 

As I fought my fear and pain... I decided to go for a drive and pray. I turned on my current favorite worship song. As tears streamed down my tingling and slightly sunburned cheeks, I forced myself to sing along as loudly as I could even though my heart felt something completely different. But the most wonderful thing happened once these next words arrived in the song; my heart agreed with my voice. Hope fled in, trust burst through, and faith stood stronger than doubt.

"You make me brave. No fear can hinder now the promises you gave. You make me brave. You call me out beyond the shores into the waves."

Our limited human views can never alter His infinitely divine plan. What we SEE is not all that He has PLANNED. Nothing is too big for Him.

As I continued to worship, I recalled the story:

I walked into Payless with one neon orange sock and one bright yellow sock on both feet. Clearly, this is why I was there-- I'm not much of a "shoe" person... but once my last pair literally fell apart, I figured it was time to get a new pair.

Upon walking in, the first thing I noticed was the woman working behind the counter. A beautiful, tall African American lady with a rainbow striped maxi dress that gracefully drug along the carpet as she approached to assist me. As she helped me find a pair of shoes, we started to talk about life.

She asked why I was moving across the country, and I told her the simple truth that God led me to do so. Her face froze for a moment, and the most beautiful thing happened: she began to sing a hymn. It was about following God anywhere He leads us. I thanked her for letting me hear her lovely voice and she proceeded to tell me how she had been thinking so much about that lately-- about following God anywhere despite what everyone else thought about it. I gently reminded her she still can; that it's never too late.

We both laughed together and shared truth and encouragement with one another. As I was about to walk out the door with my new shoe box, I asked for her name; she kindly stuck out her right hand and said: "I'm Precious".

My heart began to sing. Precious.

"That is exactly what you are" I said, "Precious."

I sat in my car and thought of in Daniel 10 where the angel tells Daniel: "Do not be afraid! For you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!"

 We all may have a different name given us by our parents, but in reality we all have the same name given to us by our Father in Heaven: Precious.

Fast forward to my drive in the car. As I sang those words of truth with everything I had despite the fear I fought, I heard my name sung over me. I felt the words spoken to Daniel spoken to me:

Do not be afraid! For you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!

He is saying the same thing today to you who are Precious. Stand on His promise, He will never abandon His finest and most precious possession:

You.

-Han