Be Careful What You Name Your Future

Be Careful What You Name Your Future

Hook
Sometimes, pain speaks before faith does.

When we go through difficult seasons, it is easy to give our situation a name based on what we are experiencing rather than what God has promised. But be careful what you name your future. What you call your tomorrow can shape how you approach it today.

Scripture

“She named the child Ichabod—‘Where is the glory?’—murmuring, ‘Israel’s glory is gone.’ She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her husband and her father-in-law were dead.” (1 Samuel 4:21 NLT)

Explanation
The woman in our text named her son Ichabod, meaning that the glory had departed. Her interpretation was understandable. The Ark had been captured, her husband was dead, and her father-in-law was dead.

But her conclusion was wrong.

She named her future based on what she could see in the present.

While she was mourning, God was still working. The Ark had entered the camp of the Philistines, but God was about to demonstrate His power there. He brought their idol Dagon down and struck the Philistines with affliction. What looked like the end of God's glory was actually another opportunity for God to reveal His glory.

We see another example in Rachel. As she was dying after childbirth, she named her son Ben-oni, meaning “son of my pain.” But Jacob renamed him Benjamin, “son of the right hand” or “son of good fortune.”

Rachel named him according to her pain. His father named him according to his future.

Then, in the New Testament, we see Elizabeth refuse to follow tradition when naming her son:

“No. He is to be called John.” (Luke 1:60)

Why? Because God had already spoken concerning the child.

Application
Don't name your future according to your pain. Name it according to the promises of God.

Don't call yourself defeated because you are experiencing a battle.

Don't call yourself finished because you are going through a difficult season.

Don't call your family hopeless because of what you see today.

Don't call your business dead because it is struggling.

Don't call your dream impossible because progress is slow.

Your present condition does not have the authority to rename your future.

The Bible says:
“Let the weak say, ‘I am strong. Let tThe poor say I am rich’”
“By His stripes we are healed.”
“We are seated with Christ in heavenly places.”
“You are the head and not the tail.”

Speak in agreement with God's Word.
Your pain may have a voice, but God's promise must have the final word.

Reflection
What have you named in your life because of what you have experienced?

Have you allowed disappointment to name your future? Have you allowed failure to name your identity? Have you allowed a difficult season to convince you that your story is over?

Remember: Ichabod was a name born out of pain, but God's glory had not departed.

Be careful what you name your future.

Prayer
Lord, help me not to interpret my future through the lens of my pain. Teach me to see my life through Your promises. Give me the wisdom to speak faith when circumstances speak fear, and to call my future what You have called it. May my words agree with Your Word. Amen.

Discussion Question
What is one area of your life where you need to stop speaking according to your pain and start speaking according to God's promises?

Have a fruitful day.

(Dr.) Emmanuel Okoro
(aka Dr. Lift)

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