No. 14 SCHEDULE: FROM DISABILITY TO EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY

Post date: Feb 19, 2016 12:50:45 AM

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez, saying, because I gave birth to him in pain. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border property, and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me. And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. How did Jabez make it out of this disability and birth stigma? His name means pains. His sorrows and situation was made more painful by his name and his physical appearance. His parents, neighbors and friends were of no help to him in any way. But even when there were no one to help, the spirit of God and the knowledge of the God of Israel in him was there to point him to heaven and urge him to engage his God in prayers instead of complaint; to engage His God in positive things rather than negative things in his life; to engage his God for a change instead of accusing his parents for a bad name and bringing him into the world to face such situation from birth; to engage his God with the little strength he had even in his disability; to engage his God for the future instead of complaining of the present; to engage his thoughts on what God can and will do instead of the situation he was born with. When you do these things, you will definitely move from your disabilities to your future beyond all human or family expectations.

Jabez was physically dishonorable because of the nature of his birth and his situation after birth, but he was honorable because he had a good relationship and knowledge of the possibilities in the God of Israel. In every situation, in every disability, in every disappointment, in every discouragement, and in every disappointment affecting God’s children in any location, God has a plan, a will, and a purpose. God had a purpose for Israel before Jabez birth and He had a purpose for Jabez after his birth. At the right time, this righteous man went to God for His blessing to be fulfilled in his life and his situation completely changed, not partially but totally. What about you and your disabilities? Do you want God's plan for your life and situation? God in His love has a distinct purpose for you despite your disabilities. Why not pray that God will bless you indeed and will change your disabilities into exceeding ability?

Your disability may be weighing heavily on you and your dreams, but it is nothing before your God; your disability may be the reason for your failures and lack of breakthrough, but God is dealing with them now and will take them away; your disability may be the reason for your pains, lack of sleep, lack of favor, and lack of tangible assistance, but that will soon be a thing of the past concerning your future; your disability may be lack of finance to carry out your dreams and your visions, but God can supply you with money; your disability may be lack of followers and committed members, children and supporting spouse, but God knows all that and will take care of them; your disability may be the reason for your concerns, your cries, for your endless sorrow, for your failure to begin what you had seen in your dreams and desire in your heart, for your failure to progress beyond the starting point despite all that you have tried; your disability may be the reason you are ignored despite your knowledge and certificates; your disability may be the reason you are called names that you do not like, and your disability may be the reason this pains had lingered for so long; the God who changed that of Jabez can change your own and give you an exceeding blessings and success now.   

There are certain things that can never be hidden, you may not know you have disabilities in life and may not seek to address any, but God knows them and will help you. The story of Jabez will never be complete without mentioning that he was born with a well-known disability; disability that no one was able to hide from the eyes of the world; a disability that even the family could not explain or overcome; a disability that was shameful; he was given a name to reflect that shameful disability; but when he called on God, things changed in his life. Click here for prayer