“Each of us needs to be restored after a season of loss. . . . Our pain does not define us, nor is it meant to be a ball and chain that follows us until the day we die. God is doing a new thing. His new thing and your new name are meant to change the world.”- Esther Fleece Allen
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”- Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
Esther Fleece Allen concludes Chapter 10 of Your New Name as she encourages us that God uses our unique circumstances to help us overcome. Consequently, Esther defines overcoming as:
- looking ahead and realizing that what was meant to destroy us was ultimately destined to fail.
- drawing a line in the sand while declaring that our past no longer defines us or rules over us.
- acknowledging that God’s doing a new thing, thus giving Him an opportunity to work through us.
Furthermore, Esther finds no prescription or formula in the Bible for how our new names come to pass. Yet, we do find deeply moving testimonies and meaningful stories that show God’s heart for His children. Also, God gives new names to us despite the many times we fall short or what others do to us. Therefore, God sees the new in us and calls it out.
Finally, Esther closes the chapter with these words of hope:
“Life has many ways of wounding us. But our God is the God of overcoming. We overcome not by ignoring our pain, or pretending it never happened, but by asking God for the name He has for us instead of naming ourselves by the pain inflicted on us. . . . God wants to name you for the new thing He is doing inside you . . .”
Today’s question: How have you found yourself restored after a season of loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Pesky labels confront us at every turn”
