Through the Shadows

Through the Shadows

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez was a man who, from his birth, people associated with pain and problems. His own mother gave him a name that means “he brings sorrows”; what a way to start a life! To go about life thinking that you are the root of the problems and pain that you see all around certainly must have affected Jabez.

Scripture and history offer very little insight into Jabez, and what is recorded in Chronicles 4 makes the bulk of what is said about him. What we do know about Jabez is that he is more honorable than his brothers, he made a prayer to God, and that God honored his request. In that prayer we learn that Jabez has not been overwhelmed by the horrible expectations that were placed on him. Rather than accepting his ‘fate’, Jabez is observed crying out to God to help him in this struggle “that I may not cause pain”.  Jabez was willing to recognize where he might struggle and need help and specifically prayed to God about that struggle.

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, describes that every person has within them a ‘shadow’ side of their personality that they do not wish to acknowledge. This ‘shadow’ describes the potential that lies within every one of us to do dark, evil things. Paul affirms this as he discusses the “sin that dwells in me” in Romans 7.

In his writings, Jung stresses the importance of proactively facing the dark potential within us, before it has an opportunity to surface at the worst, darkest moment. Unfortunately, most people go throughout their lives without significant contemplation into the potential pitfalls that may lie within them. The hope for the Christian is that God’s desire is for us to not overcome our weaknesses alone, but, as Jabez, we will yield our lives to him that he would make us strong through our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-11).

Christians fail and churches fail whenever individuals allow their pride to prevent them from living a transformed life in the pattern of Christ. I challenge you to look deep within yourself and face the dark places and turn to God in prayer that Christ might “give you light” (Eph. 5:14) in that area.

I love You,

Jonathan