Twenty years ago, as I prepared for the birth of my only daughter—my fourth and final child—I searched endlessly for the right name. After three boys, this felt exceptionally special. She was our last—our only girl— and we wanted her name to carry meaning; something thoughtful, something different.

After many searches, I came across the name Imrie. At the time, it was described as having a Hebrew root connected to the idea of speaking. The meaning shared was “God speaks,” and we chose the modern spelling Emrie. That understanding resonated with me, and we paired it with Grace for her middle name. I wrote that meaning in her baby book and tucked it away, unaware of how God might one day speak to its clarity in our lives.

Emrie Grace.

Recently, Emrie shared that someone said to her, “Your name carries such a beautiful message—God speaks grace.” And in that moment, it felt as though the Lord gently affirmed something I hadn’t fully seen before.

At the time, my husband and I loved the sound of her name. We loved its flow. We loved that it felt rooted in something meaningful, even Biblical. But now, with fresh eyes and a fuller understanding, I see how much truth was quietly being spoken into our lives through a name.

God Speaks Grace

God has never been silent. From the very beginning, He has been speaking grace throughout the pages of Scripture. Grace shown. Grace extended. Grace freely given. Not because it was earned, but because it was needed.

Grace is the language God uses with undeserving hearts. It is His unmerited favor poured out through Christ. It is the message that says, “I want to give you what you do not deserve—because I love you.”

And when grace speaks, it summons hearts to respond. Grace is not static. It moves towards us—and then waits.

This season after the holidays can feel as though we need to work to be better, to do better, to set new goals. As we step into a new year, perhaps the commitment is not to do more—but to slow down. To pay attention. To listen with intention. To notice how God is speaking grace all around us.

May this be a year where we quiet our hearts enough to hear Him.
A year where we recognize the grace He is already speaking.
And a year where we reflect that grace back into the lives of others.

God Speaks Grace

 Each time I call my daughter’s name, I will be reminded of the gift that has been given—the love that has been extended and be grateful for the opportunity that God has given for each of us to respond.