Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow! God granted him that which he requested.
I remember the old story of the woman whose son was sick - a little child near death’s door - and she begged the minister to pray for its life. He prayed very intently, but he added, “If it is your will, save this child.” The woman said, “I cannot bear that: I must have you pray that the child shall live. Do not put in any ifs or buts.” “Woman,” said the minister, “it may be that you will live to regret the day that you ever wished to set your will up against God’s will.” Twenty years later, she was carried away after fainting from watching her son, hanged on the gallows, as a felon. Although she had lived to see her child grow up to be a man, it would have been infinitely better for her had the child died, and infinitely wiser had she left it to God’s will. Do not be quite so sure, that an answer to prayer is any proof of divine love. It may leave much room for you to seek the Lord, saying, “Oh, that  you would bless me!” So sometimes great excitement of spirit, liveliness of heart, even though it is religious joy, may not always be a blessing. We delight in it, and oh, sometimes when we have had gatherings for prayer here, the fire has burned, and our souls have glowed! We felt at the time how we could sing -
