Joel M Bradshaw

9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.–1 Chronicles 4

1. Let’s briefly look at Jabez today.
2. His prayer captured the eye of the church in the early 2000s because of a Christian devotional book.
3. His mother experienced pain in childbirth and named her child “Pain.”
4. Imagine growing up with that constant reminder. Imagine naming your child after a feeling!
5. Jabez’ prayed for growth of territory and favor from God. But he focused on pain at the end. He wanted no more “jabez.”
6. Jabez didn’t want the thing that defined his past to further define his future.
7. This prayer isn’t some magical formula to get things from God. Jabez was honorable and trusted God. He brought his story to God and asked that that God bring him a new identity, of sorts. And God said yes.–JMB