“Jabez was more
honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave
birth to him in pain.” 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
Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV)
What a heavy burden!
To have a name that rhymes with pain, sounds like pain, and reminds everyone
who hears it of pain. It would be a pain to bear it. Every time mother tells
the story of your birth, it is an agony. By the time you are twelve, you have heard
every joke in the book about pain, have been called every degrading epithet for
pain. No one wants to hang out with you. It is a pain to be with people and a
pain to be alone. No one to turn to, no one understands. Oh, if you could just
be free of your pain!
To have a name that rhymes with pain, sounds like pain, and reminds everyone
who hears it of pain. It would be a pain to bear it. Every time mother tells
the story of your birth, it is an agony. By the time you are twelve, you have heard
every joke in the book about pain, have been called every degrading epithet for
pain. No one wants to hang out with you. It is a pain to be with people and a
pain to be alone. No one to turn to, no one understands. Oh, if you could just
be free of your pain!
The first human
response might be to end it all. One might escape into a bottle or drug-induced
oblivion. One can always run away from or deny that the pain exists. But the
pain only gets worse. Is it possible that there might be a different solution?
response might be to end it all. One might escape into a bottle or drug-induced
oblivion. One can always run away from or deny that the pain exists. But the
pain only gets worse. Is it possible that there might be a different solution?
Jabez recognized the
solution to his circumstances. He had to become a different person. One whose
name rhymed with divine blessings. One whose name reminded people of life and
growth and expansion. One whose name meant God’s hand is with me. One whose name
evoked courage. He needed to be free from his pain so he turned to the only one
who could make it happen. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel and God granted
his request.
solution to his circumstances. He had to become a different person. One whose
name rhymed with divine blessings. One whose name reminded people of life and
growth and expansion. One whose name meant God’s hand is with me. One whose name
evoked courage. He needed to be free from his pain so he turned to the only one
who could make it happen. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel and God granted
his request.
Jabez’s solution can
be our solution today: cry out to God for the change you need.
be our solution today: cry out to God for the change you need.
Dear Father, thank
you for your solution to all our dilemmas. Bless us and let your favor be with
us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for your solution to all our dilemmas. Bless us and let your favor be with
us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be strong and
courageous today receiving God’s solution,
courageous today receiving God’s solution,