9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Dear God, I think it can be said of me that I have an earnest heart, but not a bold one. I do wonder sometimes if I wasn’t designed by you to be more of a #2 and not a #1 on the org chart. For example, I would never pray this prayer. I’ve never prayed it before, and I have no intention of praying it now. I don’t know how I would separate it out from making an idol out of me and the things I want. To expect you to bless me, expand my territory (power, influence, possessions, etc.). To think that I would be presumptuous enough to ask you to keep me from all trouble and pain. Who am I to ask such a thing?!? You have granted me so much more than I deserve. How could I possibly ask for more.
So that’s the noble side of my personality. But there is a cautious, maybe even lazy side as well. I don’t push. I don’t boldly pursue new opportunities–neither for myself nor for the organization for which I work. I look for natural opportunities. I let things develop organically. But I don’t rush to plant new fields. I don’t sod a new area and then let it take root. I’m more the type that lets the existing grass grow into the blank space naturally. Yes, taking care of the existing grass takes work and effort, but it’s just a completely different philosophy than I carry naturally.
Father, as I go through this day and the days to come, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. And in the spirit of this passage, give me the courage to change the things I can. And above all, give me the wisdom to know the difference. And when it is time to grow, please bring your blessing to it and raise up people who will work with me to fill the holes I have in my own being. You didn’t make me to be 100% capable. If you did then I wouldn’t need your or anyone else. But I am flawed. I have shortcomings. I need you. I need others. Thank you for being with me so faithfully. And I do have specific requests. You know what they are.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen