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 Chron. 4:10 (NIV)

The Bible says Jabez’ mother chose his name
for the pain he caused her st birth.
Many of us look back at childhood affronts
holding these as grudges…resentments for years.
But Jabez lived with his for years and as an adult
understood God to not be a judgmental tyrant
who set his mind and held that worldview
but one who cared for people
So he asked to be free from pain, not
the entity his mother created, and God as Jabez understood
responded ganting his wish to structure his life
aligned with a purpose of freeing those around him from pain/