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 4:10, NIV

 

What’s in a name? What’s in a prayer?

 

If you’d stumbled on Jabez’s poignant story that nestles quietly amongst list after list of names in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles, you’d know that both mean a great deal. God answers Jabez’s fervent prayer and changes his life. God left just two verses of Jabez’s story recorded there for us to discover, to ponder over today – a reminder to us that, unchanging, he hears and responds compassionately to the heartfelt cry of human suffering.

 

In the Ancient Near Eastern culture, unlike ours, a person’s name held a spiritual element, importantly defining their identity and character; and this was a heavy burden for Jabez. His name had been given to him because of the great pain his mother had suffered birthing him; and all his life he’d carried the constant reminder of the pain he’d brought her. Ultimately, Jabez’s suffering must have surpassed hers.

 

Yet, his story is amazing. Refusing to allow his gloom-punctuated life to define him, Jabez doesn’t turn away from God but, instead, cultivates his faith by searching for him more and more. At the ordained time, from the very depths of his being, he can cry out to God in faith to “enlarge his territory”, to guide him and to “keep him from harm” so that he can, at last, “be free from pain”. And God does. He changes the trajectory of his life as He broadens his boundaries, frees him from pain and distinguishes him above his brothers.

 

The Bible reveals, through this simple statement, God’s principles and gracious compassion – echoed elsewhere in Scripture – which correspond exactly to Jesus’ compassionate response to people who cried out to him in their need. They, too, were not disappointed.

 

Crying out to God is natural in times of difficulty, and, like Jabez, we also suffer. We may not be haunted by our name, but our suffering is real, and God sees it; however, nurturing our faith while embracing our pain is key to developing a profound relationship with God. When we confess our need and truly cry out to him, we will discover that he “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) We won’t be disappointed.

 

Where do you take the cry of your heart? Are you ready to pray as Jabez did?

 

Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, there is no-one like you who can see my heartache and know my deepest need. I come humbly before you. In your great compassion have mercy on me that I may know your blessing as you broaden my boundaries and free me from pain. Amen