Prayer Can Turn Pain Into Purpose

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)

The name Jabez means sorrowful. His name probably affected him, and he likely had problems with his brothers So, Jabez turned his pain into prayer to see God’s purposes for his life fulfilled.

Jabez called on God, thus he prayed. Prayer is calling on God, even for help. He expressed his prayer with desire and words. In Mark 11:23, Jesus said that whatever you desire, when you pray, believe. Desire, pray, believe.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

Jabez prayed for God to bless him. Prayer can cause us to receive all God has blessed us with in Christ. Bless means empower to prosper.

Jabex prayed that God would enlarge his territory. We must prepare for enlargement in our hearts and lives so we can receive more and do more for God and others. The more we have, the more we can use to help others and advance God’s kingdom., taking more territory for God.

He prayed that God’s hand might be with him. This means he was asking for God’s power, presence, protection, and provision to be applied to his life. In Scripture, God’s hand with and on an individual referred to God working in his life. It spoke of many things such as favor, blessing, and so on, God working in our lives in many ways.

Jabez also asked God to keep him from evil, or from harm. This refers to divine protection. He wanted this so as not to cause pain in any way to God, himself or others. We are to love God, ourselves, and others. We’re to help, and not hurt God through wrongdoing, ourselves by disobeying the Lord, and others by mistreating them.

God granted his request, and He will grant ours too when we pray in sincerity. When we sow prayer, we too will reap an answer. God will do what we ask. We can go from sorrow to supply. We will see the results and rewards of our requests as we pray in faith.