Why Knowing God by Name Helps Us Overcome Fear

How could I have missed the life-changing truth that knowing God by name helps us overcome fear? I grew up in a Christian home, graduated from Bible college, have attended church my entire life, and worked in career ministry for 33 years. You’d think I would have picked up a sermon or class or conversation about it along the way, but no.

My understanding about God’s names fell short

Until I began studying God’s Old Testament names and writing a curriculum about them for a women’s Zoom Bible study in 2021, my closest brush with them was singing a praise chorus about Jehovah Jireh (Yahweh Yireh), my provider, in youth group.

At the time, my head wasn’t in the best space to understand the significance of this name, or any other of God’s names. As a 16-year-old, my focus was on getting my driver’s license and finding a steady boyfriend. If Yahweh Yireh could provide those perceived needs, then great! I’d give Him a score of 10 out of 10 for reliability. My understanding ended there.

If I could write a memo to my younger self, it would include urgings to dig into God’s Hebrew names because each one tells us something about His character. Life experience has taught me that hard stuff happens, and knowing God by name helps us prepare for it and overcome the fear that almost always accompanies it.

What’s the significance of the name Yahweh Yireh?

Yahweh Yireh tells us that God is self-sufficient and self-existent. No exterior force brought Him into being, no exterior force keeps Him alive, and no exterior force or experience shaped Him into being who He is.

God’s ability to provide for us depends on nothing outside Himself. Because of who He is, He never runs short of what we need. He is the infinite and everlasting source of everything required for us to rise above fear when we face the wind and waves.  

When we need wisdom, Yahweh Yireh provides.

When we need perseverance, Yahweh Yireh provides.

When we need physical and emotional strength, Yahweh Yireh provides.

We have access to everything we need to face our challenges with confidence because of who He is–the God who provides. If He appears to be withholding something we think we need, perhaps we need to think again. Maybe we don’t need it after all, or perhaps He will give it to us at a more desirable time, when He knows it’s best.

Knowing God by name helps us overcome fear

The more we understand God’s character as manifest by His names, the more we’re able to trust Him when life takes a difficult and unexpected twist. The psalmist penned his thoughts about this truth in Psalm 9:10.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Knowing God by name helps us overcome fear. The name Yahweh Yireh is only one example. I’ve barely unearthed the treasure it contains, and already it boosts my confidence to trust Him while walking alongside several friends dealing with cancer.

Yahweh Yireh gives me faith to trust Him for the very best outcome. He gives me the ability to rest at night rather than lie in bed and entertain the what-if thoughts. He gives me creative ideas to know how to help these friends in practical ways.