“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’” – 1 Chronicles 4:9
For God’s people, the past doesn’t define us! Many people believe it inevitably does but that’s a lie! We live in a world that tries to define us, manage us, label us, or limit us based on our past. Our experiences, our locations, our families, our failures…. These certainly have influence and impact but they shouldn’t define us. Unfortunately, we can easily fall into the trap of letting them define us, believing that because something painful or shameful has happened to us that we’re forever stuck, defined, or controlled by that thing.
That isn’t how it works in God’s eyes! Amidst a long list of unusual names, we encounter Jabez whose name was “pain”. Apparently his birth was so traumatic and painful that his mother gave him a name that forever reminded her of pain. That would be tough to deal with! Imagine being named and labeled pain your whole life! Your own mother calls you pain as an ongoing reminder that you caused her great pain. It would be awful!
However, Jabez rose above that, becoming a godly, prayerful man whose character in the Lord was so much greater than normal that he is forever remembered in the Bible. Jabez is a wonderful reminder of the truth that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) When you trust in Jesus, you’re made new! Completely, fully new…
Your past may still carry pain. It may still feel like it should limit you. But in Christ, the past doesn’t need to have any power over you. All your guilt has been forgiven. All your shame has been washed away by the blood of Jesus. You aren’t defined by failure, by disappointment, by suffering, or by the names and labels others call you. You are a child of God! You are loved and adopted! You are made new and united with Jesus Christ!
Don’t let the pain of your past hold you back. Embrace Jesus and accept His loving two-word invitation, “Follow me”. Follow Jesus into a better, brighter future. Follow Jesus into a future defined by His ongoing love and presence in your life. #FollowJesus