More Than Just A Name

Over time, I have learned just how much it matters to be called by name. It has resonated even more over the past few weeks, as it happened again and again that each time I addressed someone by their name, their face instantly lit up and their countenance eased. A moment that could have lasted only a few seconds would stretch into a real conversation.

Almost every time they ask the same thing. “How did you know my name?” Sometimes they even follow up with, “What do you know about me?” As if to say, I hope my name is known for the right reason.

At first I thought little of it, but the more it happened, the more I began to notice. When I asked one of them why they reacted the way they did, their response was that it subtly made them feel seen and reminded that they are not invisible. Dramatic response, I thought, but hey, that’s their mind, so I went with it.

This morning, while reflecting on those varied incidents, I was reminded of how God, the master of making His people feel seen, does the same– even more. With each name God gives, it carries identity. And so, each time He calls us by that name, it is a reaffirmation of that very identity by which He knows us.

In Isaiah 43:1, God speaks to the people of Israel during their exile, a time filled with fear and uncertainty. He says to them, “I have called you by name, you are mine.” Even in their displacement, He assures them that they are known personally and claimed as His own, a reminder that they are not invisible.

Later, in Isaiah 49:16, God speaks again to a people struggling with discouragement and seeming obscurity. He says to them, “See, I have engraved your name on the palms of my hands.” You know how people in love sometimes tattoo the names of their partners or loved ones on their bodies? Looks like God beat us to it eons ago. When we see someone with a name tattooed, it always tells us two things: first, that they are closely connected to that person, and second, that the person holds a special, cherished place in their heart. That’s exactly what God shows us in the way He addressed Israel. They were/are not only known, but permanently held and carried in His care in a way that cannot be erased.

Jesus continues this theme in John 10, describing Himself as the Good Shepherd who “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Each person is known individually, guided with care, not treated as just part of a crowd. And then there is Nathaniel in John 1:47-49, astonished that Jesus knows him before they have even met. This recognition moves Nathaniel, sparking his faith.

Reflecting on all this, I couldn’t help but think of those small moments in my own life when simply calling someone by a mere birth name meant something to them. So, if hearing your name from another person can make you feel seen, how much more powerful is it to know that God knows each of us intimately, by name/identity, knows our fears and joys, hopes and the smallest details we might not even notice about ourselves.

So the next time we speak someone’s name, think of it as a subtle way of reflecting the heart of the One who knows us intimately by name. And if, by any chance, you have experienced, or are experiencing something that has made you feel forgotten, invisible, or overlooked, consider this a timely reminder: you are not forgotten. Sooner than later, not only will you see that your name has always been written on God’s heart, He will also make your name great in ways you can see, and in ways that allow others to share in the blessing.