1 Chronicles 4:10 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.” And God granted his request.
“It’s never too late to turn your pain into gain.”
Jabez was a scribe who came from the tribe of Judah. ‘Judah’ means praise however, ironically the mother of Jabez named her son “sorrow”. The literal translation of the name Jabez in Hebrew is “he makes sorrowful”. Kings and warriors came from the clan of Judah. “Yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chronicles 5:2). The most esteemed and adored king of Israel, King David followed by King Hezekiah but more importantly, the King of Kings, King Jesus, came from the tribe of Judah. The simple revelation that made Judah prevail over the other eleven brothers is that “Judah was a tribe of praise”. Yet, Jabez from the clan of Judah was named and shamed as “pain/sorrow”. Jabez was an educated scribe who was proficient and knowledgeable in the scriptures. A family of scribes living at Jabez (1 Chronicles 2:55). The transcriber who understood his heritage did not want his legacy to end in pain. He decided to dissonate the incongruence between his name and the birthright hence he prayed, “keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain”.
It is not too late to reverse curses into blessings and mishaps into miracles. The scribe who was enthralled by his inheritance was able to turn the tag of pain into praise. The children of God who are born-again into the bloodline of Jesus, can safely say that we belong to the tribe of Judah – the tribe of praise, progression, and promotion.
Three steps to reverse pain into gain:
- Recognize: Like Jabez we are born into the divine family of praise. The naming, shaming, blaming of family, friends or foes should not discombobulate our place, position or power. The curses, demotions and downfalls of our life can be reversed by recognizing our place and position in the family of God. Recognize that you belong to the tribe of King Jesus and reverse your pain with praise. Praise reverses pain into promotion.
- Renounce: Praise and pain don’t co-exist. Constant complaining, grouching and sulking can lead to various health problems such as depression, digestive problems, insomnia, high blood pressure and risk of heart disease. Renounce pessimism and proclaim the wonders of God. Praising God and recalling His goodness, power and might will turn grouching into gratitude and complaining into adoration. Praise renounces curse and announces blessing.
- Reverberate: Praise resounds victory. After the death of Joshua, the tribe of Judah was selected by God to lead the battle (Judges 1:2). Before they went for battle, victory was reverberated by the tribe of Judah. Praise will confuse the enemy’s schemes. So, fight your battles on your knees and let praise proceed your prayer. Praise defeats the enemy.
It is not too late to reverse the curses and pain into blessings and victories.
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Prayer: Jesus, the Lion and the King of Judah, I will praise my way through the heartaches and see your hand turning the pain into promotion. Amen.
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