“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” — PSALM 23:3
This year’s theme, For His Name’s Sake, has been on my heart for a long time because it was something that my grandmother used to say. She believed that whatever we did, we should do it for the glory of God. Whether life was joyful or difficult, whether we were overwhelmed or simply going about the ordinary routines, she would remind us to keep our eyes on Him. My grandmother worked hard, loved her family well and faithfully served the Lord because she believed her life was ultimately about honoring His name, not her own.
One season in particular taught me what she truly meant.
When I became a teen mom, I remember feeling like I’d ruined my life. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about ministry or books or speaking. I wasn’t imagining podcasts or opportunities to encourage women around the world. I was simply trying to survive. I wondered if I’d finish school. I wondered if I’d ever recover from the heartbreak that accompanied that season. If I’m honest, I spent a lot of time wondering what people thought about me.
Would they always see me as “the girl who . . .”?
Would this become the defining chapter of my life?
Maybe your story looks different than mine, but I imagine you’ve asked similar questions. Maybe your season involved a divorce, a financial setback, a parenting struggle or a decision you wish you could undo. Maybe your circumstances weren’t even the result of your choices, yet you still found yourself carrying the weight of other people’s assumptions.
Let me tell you, it’s exhausting trying to manage your reputation.
As I reflect and look back on that season, I realize I was carrying a burden God had never asked me to carry. I was so concerned with what people thought about my name that I wasn’t thinking much about His. That’s why Psalm 23 stops me every time I read it.
David writes, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Notice he doesn’t say that God restores us so we’ll have a polished reputation. He says that God restores us for His name’s sake. In Scripture, a person’s name represented far more than what they were called. Their name represented their character, their reputation and who they were. So when David says God leads us for His name’s sake, he’s reminding us that God’s work ultimately points people back to Him.
That truth should change the way we approach ordinary life because we are women who bear the name of Christ. When we respond patiently instead of reacting in anger, we’re representing Him. When we forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it, we’re representing Him. When we show kindness to the cashier who’s having a rough day, we’re representing Him. When we keep our word, honor our commitments and choose integrity even when no one else is watching, we’re representing Him.
Looking back now, I can answer the questions that once kept me up at night. Would people always remember me as “the girl who . . .”? Maybe some people do. Would that season become the defining chapter of my life? No, God had a different story to tell. He wasn’t interested in rehabilitating my reputation nearly as much as He was interested in revealing His character.
Our calling is to faithfully bear the name of Christ. As we follow Him, His grace, His kindness and His faithfulness become the story people remember, not because of who we are or what we’ve done, but because of who He is.
And I don’t know about you, but I find tremendous freedom in that.
Father, thank You for restoring me and calling me Your own. Forgive me for the times I’ve been more concerned with protecting my reputation than making Your name great. Help me to remember in all that I do that it is for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection: Where have you been striving to protect your own reputation? Ask the Lord to help you release the pressure of building your own name and instead become someone who joyfully reflects His.
