“You’ll grow into your new name.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are (p. 23). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I know, I know.  You may have been given a new title and you have problems believing what it says you are.

Craig says, “Shortly after joining my church staff at the tender age of twenty-two, I passed a lady in our office. She smiled broadly and said, ‘Hi, Pastor Craig,’ and kept on walking. Pastor Craig? Are you kidding me? I don’t deserve to be called ‘Pastor’ anything!

“Uncomfortable with this title, I found my boss, Nick, and told him that I wasn’t ready to be called Pastor yet. I didn’t know enough. Wasn’t good enough. And still had way too much to learn. Pastor Nick burst out laughing, put his hand on my shoulder in a fatherly manner, and said, ‘Pastor Craig, I remember feeling just like you. Don’t worry. You’ll grow into your new name.’”

Craig goes on, “Those words helped change my life, and now the same is true of you. God is going to give you a new name; you may already know it. You might not feel worthy of that name or understand how it applies to you. You may not feel deserving. Don’t worry. God gave you that new name, and you will grow into it.

“You might have done a lot of things wrong and you carry the guilt. Your new God-given name is Forgiven. Perhaps you’ve struggled with an ongoing sin or don’t like something about yourself. Your new name is Transformed. You might live daily with a hurt from the past. You’ve been abused and don’t know if you can ever overcome it. You have a new name. Your name is Healed.

“It could be that you know you need to step it up and direct your family toward God’s perfect will. Even though you don’t feel ready, God calls you Spiritual Leader. You might have battled overeating or underexercising your whole life. Accept the new name Physically Fit. If you’ve ever felt like a failure as a mom, seek the God of all and own it when he calls you Great and Godly Mom. When God gives you a new name, even if it feels like you can’t fulfill it, don’t worry. By his Spirit and through his Son, you will grow into it.”

He then says, “When God gives you a new name, even if it feels like you can’t fulfill it, don’t worry. By his Spirit and through his Son, you will grow into it.”

So, what new name are you having trouble accepting? Would you just accept it and let God grow you into it?