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PUTTING ONESELF IN GOD’S HANDS (JABEZ) (1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10)

REFLECTION
Putting oneself in God’s hands is the theme for our reflection. To put oneself in God’s hands is to acknowledge God as the source of life and to totally depend on Him for one’s well-being and success in life. We shall reflect on the following facts.
1. Prayer and faith are the means through which we put ourselves in God’s hands.
2 We experience the glory of God when we put ourselves in God’s hands.

Firstly, it takes prayer and faith to put oneself in God’s hands. Prayer and faith acknowledge that God is the source of life and our creator therefore in both good and bad times we are able to communicate with Him and lay before Him our pain, frustration, thanksgiving and praise. Prayer is our spiritual communication device. It is for this reason Jabez prayed to God to turn His name “pain” into “success and joy”. “His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰ 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.” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Beloved in the Lord, we do not need any academic or professional certificate to pray. Again, prayer is not reserved for any special class or group of people. The only qualification one requires to pray is faith, because “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1). It is also important to add that “…without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6). Although Jabez was named “Pain” he had faith that God, the destiny changer would turn his pain and frustration into joy and success therefore he prayed to the Lord. My dear friend in the Lord, Jesus underscored the importance of faith in the midst of challenges when He asked His doubtful and traumatised disciples after calming the storm, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). Because we entertain and experience pain, fear and frustration in the midst of our challenges, many of us lose hope and faith in the Lord. Consequently, we have sleepless nights and continue to rely on mere mortals who further disappoint us. Jabaz has taught us that no matter the pain and frustration we go through let us turn to the almighty God in prayer. Lamenting all day to people will not bring any tangible solution. It is rather unfortunate that some of the people we lament to or share our pains and problems with, are the very people who despise us and are indeed pleased with our situation. God will never turn us away or despise us, for He has assured us that “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; (Isaiah 66:13). In our pains and frustration, Joseph M. Scriven has reminded us through the Hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” to sing,

Secondly, beloved in the Lord, when we demonstrate faith through prayer we shall continue to experience the glory or presence of God in our lives. We shall experience His mighty deeds in our lives. It is for this reason, we are told that “Jabez was more honourable than his brothers (1 Chronicles 4:9) His name “pain” had no effect on His life because “God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10). My dear friend in the Lord, regardless of your joblessness, sickness, academic struggles, marital problems, economic instability and financial problems, we are greatly assured by God that “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27). If Jabez who was born in pain and named pain became more honourable than his brothers then be rest assured that “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31). Like Jabez, let us not give up but continue to trust God even in our current struggles and challenges. In God’s own time, we shall experience great transformations in our lives because He is the destiny changer. When we experience the glory of the Lord in our lives, we shall say with David, “Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalms 23:6) Again, we experience the glory of the Lord when we put ourselves in His hands, for Paul assures us that “…God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19-20)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Putting oneself in God’s hands” We have discovered that prayer and faith are the means through which we put ourselves in God’s hands. Again, We experience the glory of God when we put ourselves in His hands. Shalom.

PRAYER
Almighty God and destiny changer, we have nowhere and no one to go to for solace and redemption. Into Your dependable hands, we put ourselves. You are the giver and sustainer of our lives, in You, we live, move and have our being. Take total control over our lives and order our steps through thick and thin so that Your perfect will, will forever be done in our lives. Amen