Last week my son woke up crying in the middle of the night. It was the type of cry that my feet arrived at his bedside before my brain had processed what was happening. When I scooped him up his body was radiating heat and he was clearly running a fever. I laid him on our bed and gave him something to reduce his fever. Then I prayed that God would help him to feel better. Typically when I give my kids something to lower their temperature it works with in 30 minutes. This night after half an hour he was still in our bed clutching his head in pain from the headache. I started to feel fear and began to worry that it was something more than a typical childhood illness, something much more ominous. At that point I had prayed through many versions of “God help him feel better” all that I had left to say was one word, Jesus. I whispered the name of Jesus over my son because this is the name of God that I know best.

Jesus is the name that I speak many times in a day, sometimes in prayer and sometimes just to remind myself that He is sovereign over each moment. I have spoken His name aloud when I enter the hospital room of a child who is suffering with an illness. I have spoken His name when I am sitting in a funeral and witness the depth of grief loved ones are experiencing. I also speak His name in happier moments, like the first time I hold a newborn baby or when a critically ill patient is discharged from the hospital. The name of Jesus certainly has a powerful meaning, but I speak this name most often because this is the name by which I KNOW Him.

I have experienced Jesus as He healed the critically ill patient, just as He healed the blind man in scripture. I have seen a grieving family comforted by Jesus, just as Jesus comforted Mary and Martha after Lazarus’ death. I have witnessed the joy that Jesus brings when a new child is given to a family through adoption, just as His own birth surely brought joy to Mary and Joseph. Witnessing Jesus do these things helps me to KNOW Him. I am certain that many of you have experienced Jesus in your own life. #IKnowHim is a platform for you to tell your story so that His name can be glorified.

Each of the names of God that we have meditated on this summer not only have profound meanings, but they are also how we can experience God and know Him. Knowing about Jesus is nothing compared to experiencing Him, just as I experienced Him when I called out to Jesus while my son struggled with his fever. The next morning, my son’s fever was gone and he was completely healed of any symptoms. This is how I know Jesus is real, He is good, and He is moving in the world today!

There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.” Jeremiah 10:6

Amy