October 19, 2025

You can overcome your name. Jabez was so named because his mother had a lot of trouble when giving birth to him, though all women face sorrow giving birth, she may have come close to death, but it doesn’t expand on what caused her to give him a name that means grief and sorrow. Jabez opened his heart and prayed that God would increase his territory, that His hand would be with him and keep him from evil, so that he wouldn’t be grieved. God heard Jabez’s prayer and answered it. What is also notable is that his prayer wasn’t only for prosperity, but was also spiritual because he didn’t want to live up to the curse of his name. 

We are called by the name of Christ, which is very honorable, but because we have standards of behavior to honor the name of Jesus, it is sometimes considered a derogatory name. People who do not share our way of living will want us to accept their way, even though we find it unacceptable and sinful, so they disparage us because of our beliefs. If God blessed Jabez, whose name means grief, I believe He will also bless us and increase us, who are called by the name that is above every name, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Pray the prayer of Jabez and watch as God increases your territory. I prayed that prayer years ago, and God has blessed me beyond what I could ever ask or imagine. 

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. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10