In life, you can’t control everything that happens to you. But, you can control how it affects you!
The biblical character Jabez provides an example of someone who controlled how things affected him.
“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”I Chronicles 4:9-10
The name Jabez means “he causes pain” – so something about his birth was exceptionally more painful than usual, either physically or emotionally.
In biblical times, a name was very important. A name often defined a person’s future and what they would become. But Jabez defied his given name and became a man who believed in the power of God. He prayed with urgency and vulnerability, calling out to the Lord with boldness! And, God granted him what he requested.
Regardless of what Jabez’s mother said, he chose not to bring pain but gain into people’s lives. He chose to grow past what could have inhibited his growth – his name – and chose to grow up in what contributed in his growth … God!
To help cause growth, we, like Jabez, have got to:
Grow past Growth inhibitors and Grow UP in Growth contributors.
I’ll share more about this tomorrow.
From the Grow series message entitled, “How to Help Cause Growth.” To see the full message, click here.
For additional personal growth and development resources, click here.
For daily, inspirational leadership quotes, click here.
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