1Chronicle 4:9-10 says, And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
You see, Jabez was labelled with “sorrow” at birth. His mother said: “I gave birth to him in pain” and named him Jabez, meaning “sorrow”.
A man’s name is his essence or attributes or set of attributes that make him who he is.
Jabez understood this; he knew there were consequences associated with his name; he knew he had the wrong label.
So he prayed to God and his prayer against contracting sorrow nullified the label, and his life contradicted his name.
You see, no matter the label life or men have placed on you, no matter how many times you have been told you won’t be able to rise above the present status quo, you must not allow such label regulate your life.
And for those of you have settled and blamed your lack of results/success on the extenuating circumstances, remember your destiny is not in the hands of men or the circumstances around you, but in God.
Just like God made Jabez life to contradict his name, he will make your life contradict the negative circumstances around you. Hallelujah!!!
Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe(Ps)
