The Names We Carry

My name is Grant Ernest Fishbook. Grant because my parents liked it. Ernest after my Dad. And Fishbook, because a Canadian immigration officer thought the name “Faschbuk” wouldn’t work well in the new country my ancestors came to, searching for a new future.

Where did your name come from? And what about the names that no one wants to talk about?

Names are powerful. Not just the ones on a birth certificate, but those that settle deep into the soul. The names we whisper to ourselves and carry after failure, loss, and regret.

I’ve worn some names that I assigned to myself, and some given to me by people who didn’t know the impact… Liar. Failure. Not enough.

Maybe you have too.

We don’t always choose these names. Sometimes they are spoken over us or grow out of our experiences. And sometimes—if I’m honest—we reinforce them ourselves. We say things like, “I’m fine,” when we’re not. We convince ourselves that the label fits.

But God interrupts that narrative. Listen to His word:

“But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” (Isaiah 43:1, NIV)

Did you see that? The God of the Universe calls you by NAME! God doesn’t ignore our brokenness, but He refuses to let it define us.

He calls us by name.

And not the name we’ve been clinging to—but the one He gives.

Today, I want to ask you something that I’ve had to ask myself: What name have you been wearing? Is it shame? Insecurity? Something from your past that you can’t seem to shake?

God is not asking you to clean yourself up before you come to Him. He’s simply saying, “Come over here.” Bring the name with you—but don’t expect to leave with it.

That’s where the process begins. For the next few days, we are going to look at the new names that Jesus has for all of us. They are amazing, and that journey can start with a simple prayer. Let’s pray together:

“God, I’ve been carrying names that don’t come from You. Some of them feel true, and some of them hurt too much to let go. Give me the courage to be honest about them and the faith to believe that You have something better for me. Call me by Your name today. I want to hear that whisper. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Never forget, my friend, 

You are a miracle!