God named Matthew
- Jason H
- Jun 1, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
Written on August 21, 2019 — one day after Matthew’s birth
Original story found here
From the beginning, my wife and I have believed that names matter. In Scripture, God often gives or changes names to reveal purpose and calling. We’ve trusted Him to do the same for our children. Each of our boys has been named through prayer, asking God to guide us to the name He had already chosen.
Our newest member is Matthew Ray. Both names carry deep family heritage, but the way God confirmed them was unlike anything we had experienced before.
The Meaning of His Name
Matthew comes from my wife’s family line. It means “Gift of God.”
Ray is my grandfather’s middle name, the name by which he is known. It means light” or “counselor.”
Together, the name speaks of God’s gift shining as light.
The Struggle to Decide
This time, choosing a name was harder. We had a list of nearly ten possibilities, some family names and some not. We prayed over them again and again but never felt the peace that comes when God confirms His choice.
At one point, I even wondered if God might allow me to choose freely and then breathe purpose into that name. But in prayer, He reminded me: “I have already chosen his name. I will reveal it in time.”
So we waited.
The Dream and the Confirmation
One morning, I awoke from a vivid dream — unusual for me, since I rarely “dream” at all. In it, our newborn son lay peacefully in the hospital, his hair shimmering like light itself. His ears, however, looked aged — like a grandfather’s.
When I told my wife, she smiled. She too had dreamed of our baby. In her dream, his name was Matthew Ray.
We had never considered that combination before. I wondered if it was significant.
I then turned my phone on to check notifications. I received a Scripture text from a beloved teacher and friend. The passage was Matthew 5:14-16:
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
The names, the dream, the verse — all aligned. We knew God had spoken.
Honoring My Grandfather
Early on, I had thought about naming a son after my grandfather — a humble man of faith, respected by his children and grandchildren alike. Yet I had surrendered that desire, trusting God to choose.
In His kindness, God did both: He gave our son a name that honors my grandfather while also carrying divine purpose.
My grandfather is not perfect — he himself has admitted as much. But neither was Abraham, who simply believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). One man’s faith can ripple through generations. My grandfather’s faith - the first Christian in my lineage - has shaped mine, and now his name will be carried forward in Matthew Ray.
The dream’s details still echo:
The bright hair — a sign of the Ray, the light on a hill.
The grandfather-like ears — God’s way of honoring my grandfather.
Matthew’s name is more than heritage. It is a testimony. He has been given a life verse, a family legacy, and above all, a reminder of who God is.
A Father's Prayer - hours after Matthew's birth
Lord,
As I watch my sons embrace their new brother with hearts full of genuine love and respect, I see the seeds of goodness growing within them. These are men in the making—men shaped by love, humility, and grace.
I witness the freedom You’ve poured into my wife since she laid her burdens at Your feet nearly a year and a half ago. I marvel at the relationships You’ve woven into our lives through a faithful church, and the ripple of Your influence—touching my students, our congregation, and the community we serve. We are surrounded by a family that loves selflessly, understands deeply, and supports without condition.
All I can do is stand in awe of Your handiwork.
And then, You whisper into my soul…
“I just like to see you smile.”
Every time I recall those words, tears well up. Even now, hours later, the weight of Your kindness overwhelms me.
God, You are beyond good.
You didn’t bless me today to commission some grand task or demand repayment through ministry. This isn’t a transaction. It’s not a setup for future obligation. You did all of this—for no other reason than this:
“I just like to see you smile.”
Having loved my wife and children with all that I am, I understand—at least in part—what You mean. I glimpse the depth of Your heart in those words. The relational richness. The joy of simply delighting in someone you love.
I have no words left. Only open arms.
I embrace You with all that I am, joy spilling over, and I declare with full heart:
You are my God. And I am Yours.
A Deeper Realization of Matthew’s Miracle
Something I have been meaning to add to this story are new realizations on the miracle of Matthew.
Within a year of his birth, my wife began experiencing severe health challenges. She was bleeding three out of four weeks each cycle and became dangerously anemic. We tried an IUD to help regulate her hormones, and for a short time it seemed to bring relief. But the bleeding returned, worse than before, and once again she was at risk. Eventually, we had no choice but to proceed with a hysterectomy.
When the surgery was complete, the doctor shared a sobering observation: she was amazed my wife had been able to carry Matthew at all. In her words, the condition of my wife’s uterus made it far more likely to rupture than to sustain a successful pregnancy.
Before Matthew, we had already endured the grief of miscarriage. Miscarriages often occur because of complications with the baby or the mother’s ability to carry. In our case, the doctor’s testimony revealed just how fragile the possibility of Matthew’s life truly was.
And yet, against all odds, he came. His very existence is a living witness to the truth of his name—Matthew, “Gift of God.” What we once believed in faith has now been confirmed through hindsight: Matthew’s life shines all the brighter because it was given through circumstances that should have made it impossible.
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