“I am the Lord who heals you…” (Exodus 15:26b)

When your heart is broken, there is a truth you need to hold on to: God loves you unconditionally. It is true that Satan’s lies can greatly influence us during times of vulnerability, but regardless of our weakness and fear, God hears us when we call upon Him for help. We need to cling to this important truth.

Yet, when we are in a state of shock, we may not be able to fully grasp the depth of God’s unconditional love. To help us experience God’s love and prepare our hearts for His life-changing healing, we must first come to know Him—know who He is, the God who created us with an innate desire to know and love Him. Although this desire endures forever, trauma can temporarily cause it to lie dormant.

So, who is God?

Through His inspired Word, the Bible, we find that God has many names that reveal His nature and character. These names help explain why He heals.

Elohim means “Almighty God, the one true God.” It refers to the supernatural God and His creative power. Elohim (or El) can be combined with other words to emphasize God’s attributes.

Yahweh is the greatest name of God, meaning “I AM” God, “I AM” Lord. It expresses God’s relationship with His creation, humanity. When God says, “I AM,” He reveals His name. In the Hebrew language in which this verse was written, the letters are yod, he, vav, he, from which we get YHWH.

These four letters were often loosely translated into English as “Jehovah.” However, there is no “J” sound in Hebrew. Therefore, a more accurate approximation of God’s name is Yahweh.

Yahweh is often combined with other words to describe God’s covenant names, including:

1. Yahweh-Jireh — “The Lord who sees and provides for your needs.” He will supply all your needs so that you lack nothing.
2. Yahweh-Nissi — “The Lord is your miracle” or “The Lord is your banner.” God will be your protector and perform great miracles beyond all your expectations.
3. Yahweh-Tsidkenu — “The Lord is your righteousness.” Yes, He will vindicate you before all your enemies.
4. Yahweh-Shalom — “The Lord of peace.” This means that the Lord will give you peace despite all your troubles and battles.

The names of God show us that He is perfect, holy, all-knowing, ever-present, the beginning and the end of all things, the same yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change, and His love transforms us day by day as we live according to His principles. Indeed, through His name, He makes us holy, whole, and worthy of love.