I AM: Yahweh (And a giveaway)
I AM: Yahweh
Dear one, I do not know what road your heart has taken through this journey of loss. Perhaps, you feel as though you are drowning in bitterness and anger, or maybe you have shut yourself off to the world because feeling nothing seems better than feeling the weight of this heart-breaking sorrow. Maybe you find that you have been isolating yourself, because you are tired of the reminders of new life all around you when you had to say goodbye to your own precious little one. Maybe it seems like no one understands the pain you’ve been through so you wear a mask like everything is fine, when inside you feel like you are dying.
My brave sister, would you allow me to shine a light down a different path? A path that leads to joy and hope and peace?
This journey you are on is not an easy one. In fact, some days it may seem nearly impossible to put one foot in front of the other in order to keep trudging along. But will you pause for a moment and let these words wash over you…
“For I, the LORD your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am The One who helps you.”
-Isaiah 41:13
You are not alone. The One who made you and loves you deeply, is walking right beside you. Will you allow Him to take your hand in His? And as you continue on this journey, will you open up your heart to all that He is and all that He has for you? Will you let this heartache lead you down the path of life? The path that leads straight to the very heart of God… where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore? He is longing to help you, to make this path known to you.
“You make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
-Psalm 16:11
Over the next several weeks I invite you to study the character of God with me. Each week, each new aspect of His character will present you with greater reasons to trust and love and hope in Him in the midst of your pain.
God reveals much about Himself in His Word. And at the core of His character is the name He has given Himself: I AM. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He said to him:
“I AM WHO I AM. …This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
-Exodus 3:14,15
The name “I AM” holds great meaning and power. The Jews came to revere this name — Yahweh — so highly, that they would not even speak it, lest they accidentally misuse it. This proper name has not even been translated in our English version of the Bible. Instead, the Hebrew word Yahweh (YHWH) is translated with the word ‘LORD’ in all caps. When you read ‘LORD’ in the Bible it is God’s name — I AM
When God says I AM WHO I AM, He calls us to strive to know Him for who He is, not for who we want Him to be. The God who is self-existing, never-changing, radiant with infinite power and authority, and whose character is entirely absolute.
I AM the source of your Hope
I AM your deliverer
I AM your rock
I AM your strength
I AM all that you need
I AM WHO I AM
Can you begin to taste the hope that is found in the name and character of God? Oh! His name is so rich with joy and promise! Do not allow your sorrow to taint your view of God, but rather let it be the driving force that awakens you to who He says He is.
Jesus also used the name I AM when speaking of Himself.
“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
-John 8:58
Jesus was not only declaring that He is eternal, but that He is the same God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. He used the same word that God spoke to Moses when He declared His name in Exodus, and we see this powerful phrase echoed throughout the New Testament:
I AM the bread of life – (John 6:22-59)
I AM the light of the world – (John 8:12-30)
I AM the good shepherd – (John 10:1-18)
I AM the resurrection and the life – (John 11:17-27)
I AM the way – (John 14:1-14)
I AM WHO I AM
Can you hear Jesus speaking into your sorrow? He is your light, your substance, your provider and your very life. Let this truth sink deep into every crevice of your heart that has been weighed down with hurt and grief and pain. Read it over and over and over again. And then read through each of the “I AM” passages listed above to let His Word sink in even deeper. All that you need is found in The One who is I AM.
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, the soldiers called out that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, “I AM He.” (John 18:5). At the sound of His voice and the declaration of His deity, the soldiers “drew back and fell to the ground.”
Dear one, there is power in the name of the Lord! There is strength and safety in His awesome name. Will you enter in with me as we seek to know and understand the name of our Great God?
“There is none like You, O LORD;
You are great, and Your name is great in might.”
-Jeremiah 10:6
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
-Proverbs 18:10
“Let them praise Your great and awesome name!”
-Psalm 99:3
I urge you to allow the power of His name to transform your perspective and your very heart. Will you come along as we seek to find more of Jesus in these hard and weary places? Will you determine to trust the One who longs to breathe hope into your soul and give you the strength to press on and draw closer to Himself as He plants seeds of joy, love, goodness, and peace in your broken heart?
Because those who truly seek to know His name – the name of The One who is eternally all that we need – cannot walk away unchanged.
“And those who know Your name put their trust in You,
for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
-Psalm 9:10
…
We’ve teamed up with Denise and Johanna from Laurelbox to provide a special summer giveaway!
Laurelbox is graciously donating a box that includes their Every Tear Counts handkerchief and a Wear My Initial Necklace. You can read more about them and their business here!
The contest is open until midnight on Tuesday night, (7/14/2015). Don’t miss an opportunity to win this thoughtfully hand-curated gift box designed for women in a season of loss or grief.
Ashlee is the Editorial Manager for Hope Mommies. Ashlee and her husband, Jesse have three children on earth: Jayden (4), Micah (3), Elian (2), two children in Heaven: Simeon (May 2014), Odelle (Jan 2015). She loves photography, organization, drinking tea, serving in the youth ministry at their church, and spending time with her family.
You can get to know her more by reading her blog, Beyond Undone.
Images courtesy of Laurelbox, www.laurelbox.com
Shannon
July 11, 2015 (12:31 pm)
I love love love “I AM WHO I AM” He is all of the above. He is who he says he is and that will never change. that reminds me of a beth moore study I did where one of the five things we memorized was “I am who I say I am” Amen!
Shaina
July 11, 2015 (1:27 pm)
I love “I am Yahweh” I would not have been able to get through our loss at Jaityn if I didn’t have Gods grace and love to shelter me and His hand to hold my tears. We can overcome anything with our Jesus because nothing is too BIG or to small for him. And now is hope mommies have our sweet babies in the hands of Jesus and there is no better than with Him.
Selina
July 11, 2015 (1:36 pm)
I love the name Yaweh. I don’t think I ever realized it meant “I Am”. What a powerful message. To know that here is power in His name gives me strength to face each new day. His comfort and love allow me to choose joy, even on my darkest of days.
Laura Anderson
July 11, 2015 (1:46 pm)
I loved this post. It is beautifully written and oh so very true.
sara
July 11, 2015 (2:02 pm)
Beautiful and well written
Bethany
July 11, 2015 (2:35 pm)
I love all of the I AM verses. I have clung to I am the resurrection and the life. He is all powerful He has power over death and life. So grateful for His promises and the Hope we have in His life eternal. Oh how I look forward to the day when He will wipe away every tear and we will be with Him in glory.
manda
July 11, 2015 (3:03 pm)
I think the I am who I am statement is the hardest to face and deal with. Nothing on this earth can ever seem as consistent and it makes it hard to identify with such a finite statement.
Samantha
July 11, 2015 (6:28 pm)
You are a beautiful writer, Ashlee! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.
Kristen
July 11, 2015 (8:29 pm)
He is my shepherd. He cares for me. He protects me.
I can’t wait for the rest of this series!
Amber Varner
July 11, 2015 (9:16 pm)
Jesus is the only bread that fills, sustains, comforts, and strengthens me- body and soul. He is my sustainer.
Brittany
July 12, 2015 (1:26 am)
I love I Am the Way because He us the way. He is the truth and the only way.
Sara
July 12, 2015 (1:52 am)
John 8:58 speaks to me. I think when you lose your baby your whole world kind of shatters and turns up side down. To know that God hasn’t changed. He was the same before, during and after. He is.
Cres
July 12, 2015 (2:32 am)
I know that without the I AM, I would not continue to get through the loss of my sweet Jensen. I still can’t believe it’s been 8 months and everyday I get through knowing God has a bigger plan and blessing ahead. Thank you so much for these words.
Tamara
July 12, 2015 (3:16 am)
Well written and much needed. Thank you.
Katherine
July 12, 2015 (3:25 am)
I look forward to following this study. I love the verses about Jesus is the light of the world.
Ashley
July 12, 2015 (12:35 pm)
So well said and something I really needed to hear today. I am looking forward to all your future devotionals.
Jen
July 12, 2015 (1:41 pm)
I love I am who I am… It is very moving and something I have to remember! I am far from perfect, but that is ok!
Kristen A.
July 12, 2015 (4:02 pm)
Very nicely done.
The boxes are lovely too.
Carri
July 12, 2015 (5:32 pm)
Sweet words! And what a great pairing. Hadn’t heard of laurel box until today.
Alicia
July 13, 2015 (2:38 pm)
Beautifully written!! Thank you for your words and looking forward to the rest.
Caitlin Burdick
July 13, 2015 (7:10 pm)
Newly diagnosed with fertility issues, learning & internalizing the attributes of God is something my husband & I have been working through. This post is just another notch in the list of many ways God has been showing Himself to us.
Jessica Brown
July 13, 2015 (7:26 pm)
John 11:17-27 I am the resurrection and the life. I remember listening to a sermon on this passage and how she talked about two different stories of God performing miracles. She spoke of the little boy who had died that Jesus did not know but came upon his funeral and spoke to him and said arise and come back to life and the mother weeped with joy as her son came back to life but the parallel story was Lazarus and how the Lord was so close to him but he waited to preform a miracle. She was saying how some people get their instant healing or breakthrough but some have to go the long way around to get breakthrough. Lazarus was a long way around to healing but because the Lord waited there was no denying HE had done a miracle and all of it would be for HIS glory. I just love reading the story of Lazarus and knowing that all this is for the glory of the Lord!
Karen
July 13, 2015 (10:32 pm)
I love and appreciate that He is the Good Shepherd. I have walked a very difficult journey this last year that is continuing to this day. Though it has been hard, I feel great hope knowing that I am being lovingly led by the gentle and kind Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. And I know that He is and will truly work all of this for my good!
Amy
July 13, 2015 (10:53 pm)
Love this article. Even after a year and a half I find myself withdrawing or closing up. I must remember who I am in Christ!
Shelly C
July 15, 2015 (12:11 am)
I love these I Am reminders. During this past year and a half I’ve clung to I Am your Rock/ Strength. So many days I’ve felt like I was in over my head with everything that I’ve had to deal with after our loss but knowing, reminding myself that I have an anchor and a rock to anchor to has made all the difference. Thank you.
Jennifer
July 15, 2015 (1:03 am)
Such a good reminder of Who God is! I AM who I AM is powerful. Thanks for the blog, Ashlee.
L Keyte
July 15, 2015 (1:09 am)
Thank you for sharing. These are great reminders of God’s love for us.
Kendra
July 15, 2015 (2:30 am)
Great post. Thank you for sharing!
Becca
July 15, 2015 (2:34 am)
Wow. What an amazing and thoughtful gift
Leah
July 15, 2015 (3:21 am)
I love I AM WHO I AM. Jesus speaks life-breathing truth…He is the ONLY way.
Ashlee Schmidt
July 15, 2015 (5:10 am)
Kara Parker Krepps, you have won our Laurelbox giveaway! Check your email inbox for further instruction on how to claim this giveaway! Congratulations!
To the rest of you incredible women, thank you for sharing your hearts in the comments above, and for the rest of your entries! We are honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue to come along side you in your journey as a Hope Mom!