Pain-ful But Prayer-ful

Pain-ful But Prayer-ful

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.

I Chronicles 4:9‭-‬10

What a gem was hidden between the genealogies which I considered boring to read and insignificant to look into. Recently I read an interesting fact regarding genealogies that God often includes certain names and excludes some. He starts a new line where He sees obedience. I would have easily skipped this blessed prayer of Jabez which was hiding between the list of genealogies like an oasis in the desert. This insignificant character Jabez was of much importance in God's eyes that He made sure to include a short yet powerful glimpse of this character. Often a gem is hidden in the insignificant and God loves to bring it out.

‘Pain-ful but prayer-ful’ - yes that's the title I would like to give to this insignificant yet blessed character Jabez.His name meant pain and his prayer for deliverance from pain indeed shows that his life was full of trials and pains. Yet his name didn't define him, the word of God named him as "honourable". It doesn't matter how the world defines you. All that matters is how God defines you. His painful circumstances didn't stop him from being a prayer warrior. Our most sincere prayer often comes out in the midst of our most severe trial.

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. 

Luke 22:44 

I am often reminded of this verse by the Holy Spirit when going through any kind of trials. For any situation of our life, we find our Lord Jesus Christ setting before us an example to follow. The agony our Lord went through is much more than our human mind can fathom. But one thing I understood is - the more the agony He faced the more earnestly He prayed. That should be our attitude in the midst of any kind of trials and pains.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel 

The pain-ful circumstances of Jabez made him prayer-ful. The sweet aroma of prayer arises from the burning incense. He cried to the God of Israel - the more he prayed,the more he talked to His God,the more he came to know His God. He came to know a covenant God who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments

Deuteronomy 7:9

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!

He came to know that God alone is the source of all his blessings. He understood the mighty power of this omnipotent God to guide him, help him, uphold him and protect him. 

The more we pray, the more we know our God, the more we come inside the sphere of God's love and His will. God's agape love teaches us not to cause pain but to love others unconditionally. Jabez desired not to cause pain. He didn't want to be the reason for anybody's pain. Let us be the cause of joy for our heavenly Father and for others. Prayer makes us joyful even in the midst of pain. 

As we come inside the sphere of God's will, we desire for God and His will. Jabez asked for expanding his territory- he asked to increase his sphere of influence. Yes Lord increase our sphere of influence to others so that we can contribute to the furtherance of your kingdom. His will was inline with God's will. His desire was for God. Hence God granted his request. God's grace sustained him through his pain.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

1 John 5:14

May God help us to be a prayer warrior like Jabez rising above our circumstances. May the sweet aroma of prayer arise from our burning Incense.