God’s Plan

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ 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 4:9-10


Yesterday, we talked about a man named Jabez and how he was able to step off the path that was typical of his family. This was a man whose name quite literally meant “pain.” It was what his mother named him. She was in pain; the mischief his brothers displayed caused them pain, but Jabez wanted to go down a different path.

He prayed to God asking for the Lord to enlarge his territory and for God’s “hand to be with me, keeping me from harm so that I will be pain-free.” And the text says, “God granted his request.” This was a man who saw his mother’s life, saw his brothers’ lives, didn’t have a father figure, and decided he wanted different.

And when he prayed to God for something different, God granted his request. Sometimes, God’s plan for us is different from His plan for those around us. Maybe you live in a family where everyone has gone to the same college or graduated and worked the same job. Maybe everyone in your community does blue-collar work, or maybe they all have 9-to-5 office jobs. Maybe your entire family lives in the same state or even the same town, but God is calling you to move somewhere else.

Whatever it might be, it is quite possible God has a different plan for you. This is not to say there is anything wrong with the school your family graduated from. Nor that there is anything wrong with blue-collar work, office jobs, or your hometown. These are simply examples of popular decisions that many people make, but they might not be God’s plan for you.

No one knows what God wants for you, but you! But even you will only know when you seek Him and ask what His will is for your life. God has a plan for you. It is custom-made just for you. Do not go mindlessly through life just doing what those around you do. Find God’s plan for you, and pursue it every day!