“To him who overcomes … I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” (Revelation 2:17)

This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible, it gives hope in what’s to come, in God’s ability to transform our reality…I imagine that new name would be one that summarises our life, our relationship with God and how he’d made us walk through fire unscathed.

There is many stories in the Bible were God gave people new names, let’s take a couple of examples:

"And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah."

(Genesis 41:45)

There is various opinions about the meaning of this name including preserver of life, revealer of secrets and saviour of the world.

But regardless of which one is correct, it seals the transformation that God has brought about in Joseph’s life after years of suffering, lifting him to second man in the Egyptian kingdom.

Another person whose name got changed is Jacob.

And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26)

God then gave him the name Israel which among the interpretations possible, means Prince of God or that who struggles with God.

Another apt description of this struggle is in Hosea 12:

'He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favour from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us—'

(Hosea 12:3-4)

So the struggle and prevailing does not only refer to the world, but also involves struggling and prevailing with God.

Of course not in the literal sense, what it means is being persistent, metaphorically struggling with God in prayer until we are slowly transformed.

When we struggle with God bringing all our difficulties and weaknesses, our eyes filled with tears and disappointment, then we prevail, our eyes overcome him.

"Turn your eyes away from me, For they have overcome me." (Song of Solomon 6:7)

All we need to do is let him in.