What will stop you from achieving your goal?
The very first thing that will stop you is not knowing what your goal is. This makes you blind to your desires and plans.
Dare to acknowledge what you hope for, like Jabez.
“ 9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brothers. And his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would surely bless me and enlarge my border. And may your hand be with me, that you would keep me from evil so that it might not harm me!” And God granted what he asked.”
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
It seems weird that Jabez’s account appears out of nowhere in a genealogy list. This is something like a product placement in a movie. It makes you sit up and take notice.
God had intentionally placed Jabez’s incredibly short account here. Undaunted by his mother’s choice of name (and destiny) for him, Jabez chooses to call upon the God of Israel to bless him and enlarge his border.
We would have thought such an act presumptuous, even daring. Yet, the Bible says Jabez was “more honourable than his brothers”. Yes, God sees Jabez and his request to enlarge his border as honourable!
This is to deliberately remind man that it is honourable to desire to expand your border. In fact, it is a God-given commandment to “Be fruitful and multiply” and to “fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28).
Every individual has the desire to achieve something great for himself. Even the man who says “I merely want a simple life,” will realise the simple life he desires is not so ‘simple’ after all.
Because the desire to enlarge the border of your land (your hopes) is already built into every man at creation. This theme is peppered throughout the Bible.
“Enlarge the site of your tent,
Isaiah 54:2
and let them stretch out the tent curtains of your dwelling place.
You must not spare; make your tent cords long
and strengthen your pegs,
3 for you will spread out to the right and to the left.
And your descendants will be heir to the nations,”
Building your hopes into reality starts with Acknowledging your Desire.