I already know the meaning of my name. If you spend three seconds thinking about it, you will too. My name is Autumn Rose. My name literally means "fall flower." But I looked it up anyway. Because reasons.
Rose: every definition pointed to "flower" or "rose." So original. ;) Also, one website mentioned that it can also be traced to an Old German word that means "horse" or "fame."
I've often felt I am both the epitome of and contradiction to my name. The other day, a friend texted me out of the blue and asked if there was even such a thing as a rose that blooms in the fall. And indeed, there is definitely such a thing. They're not as common as "regular" roses, but they're gorgeous.
See? I just love them. My mom explains it better, but I have a relative (a great-uncle, I think?) that absolutely loved autumn roses. They were his favorite flower.
The name I go by (Rose) is also from the Greek word ῥοδη, which means rose. And Ῥοδη (Rhoda) is a Bible character. Actually, one of my favorites. She only appears once (Acts 12:12-15), but that single appearance leaves quite the impact. To sum up, it's the passage where Peter is released from prison by an angel. He goes straight to the house of Mary, where believers were gathered and praying for his release. He knocked on the door, and when Rhoda (the servant girl) heard his voice, she was so excited, she left him standing at the gate! She ran to where the people were gathered and praying, telling them that Peter was there at the door. And they did not believe her until she brought him physically into the house.
Her story is always a rebuke to me. It is one thing to pray for something, but a completely different thing to believe that God is going to answer that prayer. God demonstrated this in my life recently. I had to make a tough decision - one I knew I needed to make in a direction that I did not want to take. The direction I knew God wanted me to go was a direction filled with uncertainty and instability (by human terms). On Wednesday/Friday I made and went through with the decision. And by Monday, God has shown Himself faithful in several areas that I had to leave open-ended on Friday.
God has been stretching me in more than just that way regarding my prayers. He has been convicting me quite a bit recently in multiple ares in my life. I lift these areas up in prayer, asking for answers, begging for grace, but too often continue as if God will not give me a positive answer.
God is not a miser who gives His children stones when they ask for bread. But He is also not so uncaring that He gives His children the stones they ask for either. He is my loving, heavenly Father who knows my deepest needs (and wants) and cares deeply for my soul. He will never disregard my prayers that are lifted up in faith, believing that He will stay true to His promises.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.
But he must ask in faith without any doubting,
for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea,
driven and tossed by the wind.
For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8
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