In preparation for Mothers Day I woke up early on Sunday morning and went to my back porch. I asked God what was on His heart and I saw the fiery hot love of Christ filling the atmosphere of the sanctuary, like glowing lava in the air, covering families. I saw families surrounded by these bright circles of light reunited in love weeping together. Then I read a familiar verse of scripture and noticed something I hadn’t seen before.
“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 NKJV
His mom named him based on the painful birth experience at the beginning of his life. Jabez had a trauma associated with his name and family but he turned to God and decided “this is something that happened in my life but it is not who I am, this experience has defined me until now but I’m asking God to change it. In fact You are such a powerful and awesome God that I ask You to break me through this place of pain to a place of exceeding greatness on this earth. And though my life started in pain I will never again cause pain to anyone. I will be prosperous in every area, financially, emotionally, relationally and spiritually and will bless others through my prosperity.” This story is one of a divine reversal of fortune all because he asked God! People today are still prospering from his prayer as it is recorded in scripture as The Prayer of Jabez. It is not just a prayer for enlargement and increase but one of radical reversal of identity as only God can do!
Some of the most glorious days in Bible history were preceded by painful beginnings like that of Jabez birth. I believe that will be our story. I believe a new beginning of exceeding greatness and increase is on the other side and even beginning to break through and overtake this painful birth our nation has been experiencing.
Thank you! My name doesn’t determine my future.