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What's in a Name?

 


Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery

"She's been a blessing to us, and there never was a luckier mistake than what Mrs. Spencer made- if it WAS luck.  I don't believe it was any such thing.  It was PROVIDENCE, because the Almighty saw we needed her, I reckon." Marilla, upon Anne's mistaken arrival to Green Gables.


You've probably heard the name Anne of Green Gables- she was a vibrant uneducated orphan, lacking in social graces, who showed up 'by mistake' for Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert (who were expecting a young boy to help with the farm).  This classic has won our hearts over through the years as the unexpected turns into a beautiful story of acceptance and love, attributed to the Providence of God.

While Anne was fictional, this story is not- 

-jealously loathed by his brothers (bad) because he told the truth (good) about dreams he had, he was thrown into a cistern and left to die, then sold into slavery (definitely bad).  As a slave he was promoted to oversee the household (good), but then framed by his lustful master's wife after she made advances and got him thrown into prison (bad), even though he fled from her (good).  In prison he was put in charge of the other prisoners, where he interpreted some of his cellmates' dreams from God (good).  His cellmate who was freed promised to mention him to Pharaoh to get him out of prison (good), but forgot (bad).  After 2 years he was remembered as a dream interpreter, and Pharoah released him from prison and placed him over all of Egypt , particularly in charge of managing food for the predicted famine (really good).  

Joseph Sold by His Brothers by Friedrich Overbeck

Who was this poor guy? Remember Joseph, the one with the amazing coat of many colors given to him by his father (Gen 37-47)?  While he was doing what he thought was the right thing, it seems like every point of Joseph's journey was met with what appears to be negative consequences and suffering.  Yet every time he was put through dismal experiences, the Lord blessed him.


When Joseph was approached by his brothers as they requested food, he found it in his heart to show them nothing but forgiveness.  He believed the Lord's Providence took care of him in every circumstance.  

Joseph Recognized by His Brothers by Charles Thevenin, 1789


"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is 
now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20

When difficult things happen in our lives, even gut-wrenching sorrow, it is hard to imagine any good coming out of it.  The pain inflicted by the effects of this broken world's sin can be overwhelming and suffocating.  And Satan intends all of it to harm us.  Even the constant barrage of pessimistic reactions we get seem like paper cuts that we just make us weary.  

But God intends nothing but good for us.  So how do we get beyond it and encourage others to keep on keeping on?


Pray God's name 'Jehovah-Jireh' (translated means "the Lord will provide") and watch how He graciously meets our needs in His perfect timing.


Pray God's name 'El Shaddai' (translated "God Almighty") - God is able and is sufficient to meet all our needs.

"Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; 
His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him 
who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be 
weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord 
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; 
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  
Isaiah 40:28-35

Pray God's name 'Jehovah Shalom' (translated means "God is Peace").  God cherishes us.  He wants us to come to Him with every little thing, trust Him with the big and the little and have peace and rest.  

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." 
Matt 11:28

Call on the name of the Lord.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, 
Just as we, who are imperfect, want to care for our children, You, who are beyond perfect and amazing, care for us. We can't fathom how much You love us.  Grow our trust in You when our circumstances make us weary and overwhelmed.  Reveal all the attributes of who You are so that we can know You in our souls.  Unite us as we call on You with our brothers & sisters.  Amen. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 4, 2025 at 7:18 AM

    Thank you for your encouraging words!
    Anne (with an E) is one of my favorite movies of all time, I watched it with my daughter and now my granddaughter

    ReplyDelete

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