Healing & Restoration

𝐉𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐳 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬; 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐉𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐳, 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, “𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧.” 𝟏 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝟒:𝟗 (𝐀𝐌𝐏).

The story of Jabez in the Bible gives us insights into how our pain and unpleasant life experiences can change our original design - our authentic self.

We are told in this verse that by original design, the destiny DNA of Jabez was that of a 'more honourable man'. However, his mum went through a very painful birth experience, and in that horrific moment, she named him Jabez (meaning pain). This was the turning point for Jabez. A label was placed upon him, which was different from what God had designed for him, and that altered his destiny.

I am so glad the story didn't end here because someone going through a Jabez experience would have no hope. But thank God there is hope for us!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐳 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝! I love this so much because it validates the fact that "𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 21𝙨𝙩-𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧."

Here's Jabez's prayer: He asked the God of Israel, “Please bless me and extend my territory. Let Your hand be with me and guard me from harm so I will not experience pain as my mother did.” 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 1 Chronicles 4:10 (VOICE).

Let's unpack his prayer:

📍 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: Jabez was asking for the blessing (beyond money) and influence.

📍 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞: Jabez asked God for restoration to his original design so that he could be used by God to fulfill His divine purpose for his own life.

📍 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐝. This!!! When we don't heal from our soul wounds, we pass them down to our children. 𝙄𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡. Jabez made sure that the pain ended with him. He prayed that he wouldn't have a destiny-altering experience like his mother had.

I love how Jabez's story ended. The Bible says: "𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩". Wow! What an epic ending.

I hope this encourages you, showing that your situation is not irredeemable and that you can reconnect with your authentic self. You can start this journey today by committing your hurt and pain to God, asking Him to heal and restore you.

As we enter this Holy Week, my prayer for you is that all you ask of God will be granted to you in Jesus' name! 🙏

Have an amazing new week and don't forget to share your authentic self with the world. The world awaits your manifestation! ❤️

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