What’s In a Name? What’s In Your Name?

Recently I was at a restaurant to meet someone and had to leave suddenly due to a scheduling mistake. The waiter was kind enough to tell me there was no charge for the coffee since I was there for only ten minutes. But in those few minutes of waiting, I had found out his name was Tris, short for Tristan, and had looked up its meaning. I then asked him if he knew what his name meant, and he didn’t. I told him this: “It means Gifted Knight, Chosen by God.” He looked surprised, said how much he liked that, and was so grateful I had told him.

On another occasion, I told a waiter about his name, as he had the same one as mine, William. It means “Mighty Conqueror.” You would have thought I had just given him a $100 tip. He couldn’t stop talking about how much this meant to him.

The power of a name

Our names can bring up deep and subterranean currents in our soul. Some of us like our names; others of us don’t at all. Still others are pretty neutral about it — it’s just how they are addressed.

In all ancient cultures, the name a baby was given always meant something. It was a calling out of who this child was in the eyes of the parents. By contrast, in our culture, names are generally given because the parents like the name or because it’s in the family genealogy.

But when we turn to the Bible, we rediscover the power of the name. At key points in the biblical story, there is a renaming. And it’s the Lord who does it.

Stories of renaming

Abram (exalted father) gets another name as he continues to wait for the child promised to him. The Lord calls him Abraham, father of many nations. Jacob (deceiver) gets a new name after a bizarre wrestling match with God Himself. He is now called Israel, one who struggles with God. And finally Simon, the impetuous disciple, is told by Jesus that his new name is Peter, the rock.

In each case, God sees who the man really is and calls that out of him with a new name. The power of the name finds its true source here.

It speaks into one’s identity.

So many of the great stories and myths tell the same tale. The main character assumes his identity is one thing only to find out that he is really somebody very different.

Who are you…really?

And this brings us back to our own stories. What if who you think you are is not the whole story? What if there is so much more to your identity?

I can tell you this with confidence. You are not the sum total of your failures. You are not the sum total of your sins. You are not your shame. You are not your fears. And you are certainly not the wounding names you may have been called on the playground, in the classroom, or tragically in your own home.

There is something inside of you that you cannot see. But Jesus sees it. That’s who you really are.

And only He can call it out of you.

Moving forward

Here are some things to consider to move you forward in your identity. First, you can simply start asking Jesus, “Who am I in Your eyes, Lord?” Open yourself to let Him begin to define who you are.

Second, look up the meaning of your own name and pray through it. There are plenty of websites and resources that can help you here. You can ask Jesus if this is how He sees you or if there is a new name He might have for you.

Third, this is a great way to start a conversation with someone about Jesus. I often will look up the meanings of names and speak them over strangers I have just met. It’s fun and can be of real encouragement to others.

Finding clarity about your true identity can reframe so many things in your life. It’s too important a question to simply ignore. Want to hear more? Contact me to hear about how spiritual direction can help you rediscover your identity.

Bill