Noah James

Shortly after we moved into the area, I remember rocking an eight month old Elijah to sleep in his room.  We had already placed his “name frame” on the wall above his crib right where I could see it from where I was sitting.  Elijah Michael . . . the Lord is my God.  I remember thinking that the meaning of his name had taken on significant importance to Mike and I with the transition we had just been through.  Since Elijah had been born, God had been showing us that He really is our God – that He is our Provider, our Protector, our Transition-er.  It was pretty incredible.  I remember thinking that perhaps God had us name our son Elijah for that very reason, that He was preparing us for a season where we would really learn what it meant for the Lord to be our God, individually and as a family.  I knew He did that in Biblical times, why couldn’t He do that today?

Then I started thinking about the future.  Another baby was definitely a long way in the distance for us, but we knew at that point our next child would either be Noah James or Reina Joy.  I was drawn that very day to look up what Noah meant.  Noah . . . rest and comfort.  When Mike got home I told him what I had discovered and wondered aloud with him if someday, when we had our next son, that God might usher in a much needed season of rest and comfort in our lives.  Mike joked if that was the case, we should have another baby soon.

Fast forward ten months and Mike and I were staring in disbelief at a positive home-pregnancy test.  We were a little thrown at the timing of everything, but I couldn’t get out of my mind what I felt God had dropped in my heart 10 months before.  Maybe we were having Noah, maybe God was bringing us rest and comfort.

Ever the curious one, and perhaps inclined by a strong motherly gut instinct, days before my 20 week ultrasound I wanted to know what James meant.  James . . . one who supplants.  Needing a little more clarification I turned to dictionary.com.  Supplant . . . to replace one thing by something else.  Could it be possible that God might use this child to replace some of the anxiety and stress in our lives with rest and comfort?  I hoped so.

Going into my 20 week ultrasound on Monday deep down inside I knew that as a mom I would be fine no matter what.  How could I go wrong?  Noah James . . . rest and comfort.  Reina Joy . . . pure joy.  But something just as deep really hoped and prayed there was a little boy inside of me who might bring to life the promise God laid on my heart.

So if it’s not entirely obvious at this point, God is growing inside of me a little Noah James.  Mike and I could not be more excited.  We are believing that this is one of those little reminders God gives us from time to time that He doesn’t forget about us, and even when we can’t see the answers clearly in front of us, that doesn’t mean He isn’t working behind the scenes to bring them to light.  I have no idea what God has for us in the coming months.  I don’t even know what rest and comfort would look like in our situation, but I am trusting that God will be bringing a little rest and comfort in addition to our precious Noah James.