Hello, My Name Is Abigail!

Hello, my name is Abigail. My birth certificate says Abigail. My license says Abigail. My passport says Abigail. Every single official document in my life says ABIGAIL. I tell people my name is Abigail. I want to be called Abigail. Some call me, “Ab” or “Abs” or “Babe” (Ok, maybe only one person calls me that.) or “Auntie” or “Aunt Abigail” or “Mama”- all names I love to hear. All names that bring joy to my heart. All names that fill me up with respect, affirmation, and affection. All names I like to be called.

I borrowed the title to this post from my great husband. Several weeks ago, he spoke to a group of people in their twenties (How am I not in my twenties anymore? Like, not even close.) on our names. There are many instances in the Bible where God changed people’s names. Sarai:Sarah, Abram:Abraham, Saul:Paul, Jacob:Israel. And even times where people changed their own names. Naomi:Mara. This says to me names are extremely important.

There is value in a name. There is meaning to it. If you don’t know the meaning of your name, I encourage you to look it up! There is power in a name. God has so many names it would take years of study for me to count them all. And each name of God means something completely astounding. I love that He is Emmanuel-God With Us. I love that He has a name that means God is There. I love that He has a name that means Healer.  I recently discovered that Jesus translates in the Hebrew to mean, “God delivers/rescues/saves His people”. Blows me away!
 
HE HAS RESCUED ME. There are days thoughts of My Rescuer slip to the back of my brain. On those days, or in those moments, I get caught up in my mind. I feel tangled in a mess of thoughts like seaweed snagged around the plastic piece of a six-pack. My brain feels like its twisting and tumbling and tied up. All my worries and fears and struggles feel like they will be hopeless to untie.

I used to be able to stuff the seaweed. I used to be able to tuck the tied up plastic six-pack into out of reach places, but that’s not working for me anymore. I’m a Mother now. I’m responsible for my emotional and mental health. If I’m not in a healthy place in my mind, then my husband and kids suffer of course, but I suffer the most.

What’s amazing is, the one Name that can untangle, untie, and sort out the mess is JESUS. My Rescuer. My Savior. My Deliverer. Jesus. My One. My Only. In the days or moments when thoughts of Him are slipping to the back, I call out His name. Loudly. Clearly. JESUS! And there is Peace. There is Rest. “The one the LORD loves (That includes ALL of us. That includes YOU, my friend.) rests between His shoulders”. Deuteronomy 33:12

Wherever you are in this season of life, wherever you are in the moment of just this day- He beckons you to rest between His shoulders. He beckons you to cry out His name. He calls you by your name, and you are adored by Him.

Abigail means, “Father’s source of joy”. I’ve always clearly known how much joy I’ve brought to my earthly Dad, but knowing I bring JOY to my Jesus takes my breath away. I find such joy in Him, and I’m brought to my knees in awe He finds joy in me, too. And in you.

So what does your Name mean? What do you love to be called? May your name be a blessing to you today!