“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” - 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Today’s key passage of Scripture references a man named Jabez. Jabez literally meant “pain.” Every time this man heard his name, he was hearing people literally call him pain. This was someone who did not have a father in the picture, and this is someone who the text says, “was more honorable than his brothers,” leading us to believe his brothers were a little shady.

Yet, despite his mother naming him “pain,” his brothers being shady, and not having a father in the picture, Jabez was different. The passage says he, “cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh that you would bless meant enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free of pain.’”

This was a man who knew what pain was all about. It was all around him. His mother obviously had experienced much pain, considering that is what she named her son. His brothers likely experienced pain being less honorable. And yet, after Jabez requested to be pain-free and for God to enlarge his territory and be with him, keeping him from harm, God grants this request.

Can you believe it? A man had pain all in his family. It was the way things were for years. Yet, God had a different plan for Jabez. And you know what, God has a different plan for you, too.

Have you ever been frustrated because of something that was passed down to you? Maybe you weren’t as tall as you wanted to be or as good-looking as you wished to be. Maybe your father or mother was a drug addict or an alcoholic. Maybe you have made excuses for them, that it is just “in my family,” almost as a way to justify the cards you have been dealt.

I’m here to let you know that God has a different plan for you! You do not have to be like your friends or your family. Step in and embrace His plan specially designed just for you!