For the better half of 2017, I’ve been asking God what He says my name is. Of course, I know the name given to me by my parents – Hailey – and I know characteristics that make me who I am, but something in me also knew He has a special name for me that I didn’t even know yet.
At World Race launch, every racer was given a key to wear on a chain around their neck. Each key was prayed over by the amazing WR staff, and whatever they heard from God, they wrote on our key.
My key says, “Whole.”
This was all well and good when I received the key. “Cool, what a great word!” I thought at the time. Little did I know just how many lessons God could teach me from that five-letter word.
In the Dominican Republic, He taught me that in order to be whole, I must first be broken. That was a painful lesson, but so necessary, and I can see so much growth from it.
In Haiti, He taught me that who I am is enough and is, in a word, whole. I do not have to change who I am to be accepted or wanted by Jesus; He wants me as I am, and He doesn’t even look all of my mess-ups and blemishes. He sees me as sanctified, worthy, chosen, and whole. Wow! I still feel giddy when thinking about that.
Now I’m in Botswana, and the lessons with my key just keep coming.
Let’s go back to the name question: Despite all of the things Abba is constantly teaching me, I have still been asking Him about my name. I know that He has many names for me, and I just wanted to know one of them!
At church yesterday, I walked up to a group of nine or ten year old girls and began getting to know them. (Everyone speaks English here, its been a great blessing!) I introduced myself as Hailey, and one of the girls grabbed the key around my neck and said, “This is your name.”
There was no question in her voice; it was a statement. A statement straight from Christ’s mouth and through hers.
I almost began crying right then and there, and the little girl wouldn’t have known why. I consistently asked Jesus what my name was for months, and He used a small metal key and a little African girl to share it with me.
If He would have told me one of His names for me was “Whole” when I first asked, I would not have fully understood what it meant. But now, months after I first asked, I understand more of what that means for me. I am whole – Wholly His, wholly loved, wholly sanctified, wholly chosen.
In His good timing, He answered my question. I’ll continue to ask His what He calls me, and now I understand if He doesn’t answer right away. His timing is the best, always.
This beautiful word I’ve worn around my neck for weeks has finally become a part of me – I identify with the word whole, because my Creator gave me the word as a name. How good He is to me.
