Calling on the Names of God in Your Crisis Moments

To begin with, I am not suggesting only calling on the Name of Yahweh while in a crisis moment. If you are at all like me, the tendency to pray harder and longer only occurs when faced with a crisis moment and looking for direction. However, this does not show either faith or consistency in our walk with the Lord God.

However, when life feels like it’s unraveling, and chaos presses in, as an old preacher said, “on every leaning side,” the Names of God are constant reminders of who He is and what He promises. Each of Yah’s Name’s are like a window into His heart, an anchor in your time of storm. In these seemingly crazy moments, they are not just ancient words but lifelines, offering hope, comfort, and clarity.

One of the most powerful names is Jehovah Jireh, which means The Lord Will Provide. This first appears in the story of Abraham, when he prepares to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God’s command. At the last moment, the Lord provided a ram for the sacrifice, sparing Isaac’s life.

The profound truth in this name is that He knows and has decreed what we need before we even know it. In times of financial strain, emotional emptiness, or overwhelming uncertainty, Jehovah Jireh reassures us that not only is the Lord aware of our situation but has already ordained an outcome that glorifies Himself in our lives.

Another name that brings comfort is Jehovah Shalom, meaning The Lord Is Peace. Gideon first called Yahweh by this name when he was afraid and uncertain about his calling. God spoke peace into Gideon’s obvious fear, and Gideon built an altar to honor the encounter. In moments of unsureness, when anxiety and fear take over, calling on Jehovah Shalom reminds us that peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of the solution to it (Jesus Christ).

Even when circumstances remain unresolved, His peace can guard our hearts and minds, calming the storm within us. But here is what is also comforting, even if the storm is not calmed immediately, it serves His Will for us to remain meaning He is with us anyhow!

Then there’s Jehovah Rapha, The Lord Who Heals. In times of physical illness, emotional brokenness, or spiritual despair, this name declares that our God’s power will restore. When the Israelites were in the wilderness, God revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha after healing the bitter waters of Marah. This name speaks to His ability to heal not only our bodies but also our hearts and souls. It is a promise that no matter how deep the wound, His healing touch can bring restoration and has many more times than we can count.

El Roi, The God Who Sees, is another name that holds profound meaning in moments of crisis. This name comes from Hagar’s story when she was abandoned in the wilderness, pregnant and alone. She felt unseen and forgotten, but God revealed Himself to her, assuring her that she was neither invisible nor insignificant. In your darkest moments, when feeling abandoned, El Roi is indicative of God seeing us fully and is attentive to the pain we feel and never wavers from this.

When you feel overwhelmed by the weight of struggles, the name El Shaddai, God Almighty, is a powerful one to call upon. This name emphasizes God’s sovereignty and sufficiency. He is the God who is more than enough, able to handle what we cannot, which is pretty much everything, right? In moments that life is completely out of control, El Shaddai invokes the comfort that we are not alone. Who can forget Paul’s Words – “therefore, when I am weak, He is strong.”

Another deeply personal name is Abba meaning Father. Jesus used this name when praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, a moment filled with anguish and surrender. Abba conveys intimacy and trust, reminding us that God is not a distant ruler but a loving Father who cares. When feeling lost and afraid, which basically are the same (eternally anyway), calling on Abba, as did the Son of God, proclaims that we can run to Him.

Lastly, there is the name Emmanuel, which means God with us. This name is particularly significant because it embodies the heart of God’s character: He is present. In the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel became flesh, showing us that Abba is not removed from our struggles. He walks with us through the valleys, and His presence is our greatest comfort. When life feels unbearable, Emmanuel says that we never walk alone. Jesus is there in every tear, every prayer, and every step forward.

The Names of God are not magic words to solve our problems instantly, but they are reminders of His nature and His promises. They anchor us to the truth of who He is, even when life feels chaotic. Whether we call on Jehovah Jireh for provision, Jehovah Shalom for peace, or Abba for comfort, we are reaching out to a God who is faithful to respond. These names remind us that God is not just present in the good times but is deeply involved in our hardest moments.

Crisis has a way of stripping away illusions of control and self-sufficiency. It brings us face to face with our need for something greater than ourselves. The names of God meet us in that place, offering not just answers but Himself. And in the end, that’s what we need most—not just solutions but the presence of the One who is always faithful, always loving, and always enough.