September 07, 2020

Day 18: What Is In A Name?

Day 18: What Is In A Name?

Scripture Focus:
"And when there was but a little distance to go to Efrat, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, 'Do not fear; you will have this son also.' And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Ben-Yamin."
—Genesis 35:16-18

A Call to Rename Our Pain

Ya’akov had been through a lifetime of trials since his first encounter with the Holy One at the staircase.

And somehow—through it all—
the Fierce Love of the Holy One sustained him.

Not only did He carry Ya’akov through,
but He brought good out of every challenge.

Ya’akov was now a son of the Covenant.

And the Holy One was with him.

The Presence of the Holy One in Every Season

Ya’akov knew:

  • He was never alone.
  • He was never left to his own strength.
  • The Holy One was always moving behind the scenes.

Even when things looked chaotic,
the Great Director of Life was at work.

Every trial was being turned into a testimony.

A New Trial—And A New Name

But now, Ya’akov faced his most painful trial yet.

Rachel, the love of his life, was in hard labor.
And he was watching her die.

There was nothing he could do.

And with her final breath, she cried out:

"Ben-Oni!"

"Son of my sorrow."
"Son of my pain, misfortune, and loss."

Then—
she was gone.

And there he was, holding a newborn son
at the very moment his beloved Rachel was taken from him.

Would this child’s name always carry the weight of sorrow?

Would this moment of grief define his future?

Would Rachel’s love story be remembered as one of
calamity, misfortune, and pain?

No.

Ya’akov refused to let sorrow have the final say.

He renamed the child:

Ben-Yamin.

"Son of the right hand."
"Son of strength."

Because for those in Covenant with the King,
pain never has the last word.

Instead, every trial becomes another opportunity
for the Holy One to bring forth hidden reserves of strength
and turn our mourning into overcoming victory.

Prayer for the Journey

O King,

You know the source of my sorrow, my adversity, my pain.

Rewrite my story.

Give me a new name.

Change my grief into glory.

Awestruck Heart Challenge #18

  • Acknowledge that through every painful trial,
    the Holy One has sustained you.
  • Recognize that He is able to bring good out of even your most
    traumatic moments.
  • Rename your past struggles—not by the pain they caused,
    but by the strength He has brought from them.

Awestruck Heart Exercise #18

  1. Read:

    • Psalm 34:1-19

  2. Reflect:

    • Think back to the most painful or traumatic moments in your life.
    • Ask the Holy One:
      • Where were You in that moment?
      • What were You doing behind the scenes?
      • Why did You allow it?

  3. Surrender:

    • Say to Him:
      "Though I do not understand, I trust You still."
      "I will follow You and sing Your praise forever!"

  4. Reframe Your Story:

    • Ask the Holy One:
      • What good have You brought—or are You bringing—out of my pain?
      • What strength has grown from my suffering?
      • How should I rename my experience?

  5. Read & Meditate:

    • Psalm 90:12-17
    • II Corinthians 4:7-18

  6. Tell the King:

    O GLORIOUS, BEAUTIFUL, WORTHY KING!

    I DESERVE NOTHING.

    AND ALL YOU DECREE OR ALLOW FOR ME
    IS ONLY FOR MY GOOD AND THE GOOD OF THE WORLD.

    DO WITH MY LIFE, MY HEALTH, AND MY REPUTATION AS YOU WILL.

    USE EVERY BREATH AND EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE FOR YOUR GLORY!

Closing Reflection

Pain and suffering do not define you.

The name of your struggle is not its final name.

Rachel saw sorrow.
Ya’akov saw strength.

The question is—
What will you call it?

Will you let your pain define you?
Or will you rename it with purpose?


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