Through the lens of Woman

Jacob spent sixty-some years carrying the name his parents gave him. Jacob. Heel-grabber. Deceiver. Cheat. The name described the worst version of him, and most days, it told the truth.

Then, after one long night with the Father, the name changed. Israel. One who struggles with God and prevails.

Many women have been quietly carrying names other people gave them — names that described the worst version of them, names from a parent, an ex, an industry, an old friend group, a season they got stuck in. Difficult. Too much. Not enough. The disappointment. The afterthought. The replacement. The leftover.

The Father is not bound by those names. He has been changing names since Genesis. Sarah. Abraham. Israel. Cephas. Boanerges. Beloved.

He has a name for you that is not the one you have been carrying. He gives it after the wrestle, not before. But He gives it.

One small thing today: name the name you have been carrying — the worst version of yourself, given to you by someone else, that you have been answering to. Tell the Father. Ask Him for the name He has been calling you. Listen for it. Walk through the rest of the day in it.