Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV
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.

Reflections: This passage introduces Jabez, a man who rose above the painful legacy assigned to him at birth. His mother, naming him out of her own suffering, passed her pain onto him, a name that symbolized a life marked by hardship. In biblical times, names often shaped one’s identity, and Jabez could have easily continued this cycle of pain by passing it onto others. Today, many people, like Jabez’s mother, allow their unresolved pain to shape their actions, projecting their hurt onto those around them. However, Jabez’s story is one of overcoming. Instead of succumbing to the bitterness of his name, he broke free and sought God’s blessing. By adopting the mindset of Jabez, we too can break the cycle of pain and bring healing and restoration to our relationships and communities. Don’t pass the pain on!

Prayer: Dear Lord, empower me to break the cycle of pain, and help me not to pass it on to others.

Confession: I refuse to pass on pain to others; I choose to spread healing and peace.