When God Meets Us Where We Are

I Chronicles 4:9–10 tells us, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers… Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’ And God granted what he asked.”

Have you ever tried to read through I Chronicles?
The opening chapters feel endless—page after page of genealogies. Hundreds of names we can barely pronounce most belonging to people we know nothing about. Lives lived long ago, quiet and forgotten, leaving no obvious imprint on history. If their names had not been recorded there, they would have passed into complete obscurity.

And then, suddenly, something changes.

In the middle of all those names, Scripture pauses. One man steps out of the crowd. One name is highlighted. Jabez.

Out of eleven pages of genealogies, the biblical writer stops long enough to tell us that Jabez was “more honorable than his brothers.” He is not remembered for military victories, wealth, or power. He is remembered because he did something different—something simple, yet profound.

He called upon the God of Israel.

What strikes me most is not the wording of his prayer, but the direction of his heart. Like everyone else, Jabez lived within the limitations and pain of his circumstances. Yet he understood something many never grasped: help does not come from within ourselves, or from the world around us—it comes from God.

We are not told how strong Jabez’s faith was. We are only told that it was strong enough to cry out. And that was enough.

If we are honest, his prayer sounds almost embarrassingly self-focused. Bless me. Enlarge my borders. Protect me. Keep me from pain. There is no lofty theology, no noble vows, no promises of service—just raw need laid bare before God.

And astonishingly, God answers him.

Why would God respond to such a prayer?

Because God is greater than our hearts. Greater than our selfishness. Greater than our immaturity. Greater than our limited understanding of who He is. God is not repelled by weak faith—He is drawn to it. He delights in cultivating even self-centered hearts when they turn toward Him.

In a culture full of people focused entirely on themselves, God saw one heart—imperfect, needy, flawed—but open. One heart that reached upward. That small seed of faith was enough for the Almighty God to reveal His goodness and love.

I believe God was calling every name listed in those genealogies to draw near, to cry out, to discover that the Lord is good.

But only one did.

And even though Jabez came with mixed motives and a fragile faith, God eagerly met him and poured out blessing upon him.

What is God saying to us through Jabez?

Not necessarily to repeat his prayer—but to examine our own hearts. To recognize that God alone is our true source of help. And to cry out to Him with whatever faith we have, however small or imperfect it may be.

God is not waiting for us to get it all right. He is waiting for us to take a step toward Him. Even a faltering one.

And when we do, He is eager to show us just how deeply we are loved.

I don’t know about you—but I’m convinced.