31 January

FROM SORROW TO BLESSEDNESS

“Jabez was more honourable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”

 Jabez 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 4:9-10)

What is in a name? Jabez changed his circumstances from sorrow to blessing through prayer. He refused to be limited by the circumstances of his birth, which were, in plain words, pain and sorrow.

We are not told what led to the pain and sorrow, neither are we told what they consisted of. However, let us, for our purpose, and in the light of the realities of our time, indulge our imaginations. What type of home did he come from? Pain and sorrow could be from quarrels, fights, lies, deceit, shame, separation, divorce, bitterness, hatred, sickness, death, grief, losses, unwanted pregnancy, lack of resources for basic needs, poverty, name it.

This was definitely something more than the inconveniences of pregnancy and the pains of childbirth. Jabez survived the pregnancy and delivery, early childhood diseases, the home with probably no love and no real care. His father probably did not want another child when his mother became pregnant with him. He told her to abort but she would not. He started to keep late nights and would often come home drunk. Along the line, he lost his job and all hell broke loose. He punched her at will. She almost lost the pregnancy.

The day came, labour was protracted, the delivery was complicated but eventually Jabez was born through a Caesarean section. What type of child would this be? she wondered. Right from conception to delivery, he had only brought sorrow and pain to her once loving and prosperous home so she named him Pain and Sorrow.

ACTION:  When you are low, do not look down, but look up.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, please grant me an attitude of trust in you, irrespective of my challenges.