DISTINCT IN HARDSHIPS

1 Chronicles 4:10
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain". And God granted his request." 

Background:
Chronicles 1 - long list of names (Genealogy)
Why? Genealogy helps us to know where we came from, who we are, why we are, and where we are going.
origins + identity+purpose+destiny
Knowing your history help make you distinct. 

EVOLUTIONISTS vs CREATIONISTS
"It's not about the material but it's all about the originator.
To be distinct is to know your heavenly origins and live by that knowledge. 

Atheism - Belief that God does not exist.
Deism - Belief that God exists, God created the world but does not intervenes to it anymore.
Creationism - Belief that God exists, God created and that He intervenes. 

"Every act of life is a revelation of character." Patriarchs and Prophets p.362
"A prayerless person is not a Christian." -Ellen G. White 

Flashlight kind of faith: Sometimes you are turned on, sometimes off.
To be distinct is to choose your belief on origins and live by that faith. 

If you will take a look in 1 Chronicles 4:1-8 you can read a very long list of names.
But in 1 Chronicles 4:9 the writes paused. He cannot continue without writing something about this person.
Jabez was distinct.
The name Jabez means 'pain bearer'. His mother maybe experienced pain different from the siblings of Jabez- excruciating pain that he named his son 'pain bearer'.
The name brought psychological trauma to Jabez. He thought that he will always bring pain because of this name.
There are a lot of Jabez around us - school, work, etc. They looked accomplished outside but grieved in the inside. 

1 Chronicles 4:10a
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain".-there are situations in life where Atheism/Deism cannot help us, situations where we hit hard rock bottom.
Bottom rock situations doesn't make us distinct but thay reveal the distinct.
Jabez, out of the situation he is going through, cried out to the Lord:
-God's blessing
-Limit enlargement
-God's hand with him
-Protection from evil 

1 Chronicles 4:10b
"...And God granted his request." 

Daniel 2:28 - "There is a God in heaven."
Daniel 3:17- "Our God is able to deliver us."
Job 19:25- "I know that my Redeemer lives."

To the distinct, hardships are not threats but opportunities to glorify the name of their God.
To be distinct is to face life's challenges with Christ.