Don't Allow Your Past to Name Your Future

Jabez was honorable above his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez [sorrow maker], saying because I bore him in pain. (1 Chronicles 4:9 Amplified)

In the scripture that we just read, we see his mother naming him Jabez meaning ‘pain’ or ‘sorrow maker’. She did this probably because of the circumstances in which he was born were very painful.

Then his wife (Ephraim’s wife) conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah [in evil], because calamity had befallen his house. (1 Chronicles 7:23 Amplified)

Like Jabez’s mother, Ephraim called his son Beriah ‘in evil’ or ‘unlucky’ (NLT) because of the tragedy that had befallen his family when he was born.

Over the years, I have met many parents who tell me with great pride, “Pastor, this child of mine is very lucky for me. But my other child is not lucky for me. When he or she was born there were many problems for us.” Please stop talking in this manner. You need to say what the word says. Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. (Psalm 127:3 NLT)

Just imagine, every time these parents called to their sons it reminded them of their past pain or sorrow. It again took them into the past.

Don't allow your past or present circumstances to influence your future. Don’t allow your past to control or influence you today. Focus on moving forward.

Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians: Dear brothers, I am still not where I should be, but I am focussing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13 TPT)

Now there are times when we need to evaluate and process past experiences for what we can learn from them. However, very often people dwell too much on memories of the past, letting what ‘happened’ to shape their expectations of what ‘can happen’ in the future.

Past performance is not indicative of future results, applies to more than just investment returns; it’s relevant to life.

While Jabez was growing up, everyone probably called him sorrow and pain. Nobody must have even thought that Jabez would ever make it in life because of the circumstances that surrounded him. But I praise God because your current circumstances do not determine your destiny.

If there is anyone who is judging you based on where you currently live, how you were brought up, this person is making a big mistake. While the Lord lives, Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly. (Job 8:7 NKJV)

And though you started with little, you will end with much. The glory of your latter days shall be greater than your former.

Where you are going is better than where you are coming from. Somebody receive it.

(Keep saying this throughout the day)

Though my beginning was small, yet my latter end would increase abundantly. Although I started with little, I will end with much. In Jesus name.