Winter is almost over. My goldfish have come up from the depth that kept them safe over the frozen weeks. I watch them with delight. Not only did they all survive, they had grown larger!

As I watched them, I sensed something had changed. They seemed to be much stiller. No dashing here and there. No chasing each other around. They just seemed to float in place. Were they sick? No, they were eating well. So what was wrong? Then it dawned on me. They didn’t have as much room to move around in as they had months ago. They may be feeling too crowded to play. Many centuries ago, a man named Jabez may have felt the same way.

Jabez called out to the God of Israel, saying, “, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.1 Chronicles 4:10

I can hear those fish crying out to me: “O, that you would bless us and enlarge our border, that your hand might be with us and that you would keep us from the harm of being too crowded.”

And of course I decided to grant them what they asked.

As we enter adulthood, we often think that life is wide open and full of possibilities. The sky is the limit, we are told. But many years later, we may wake up to a life that seems too small and crowded to swim in the freedom that we once had. It’s not that our borders have changed. It’s because we have changed. And our lives have changed. Our families have grown larger. Our material blessings have multiplied. The number of people we have influence over has increased. And we have much more wisdom from our experiences. All good things – but they fill our lives to the point that all we can do is tread water.

There several things we can do.

We can just accept it, like the fish did.

We can get rid of things to make more room. But sacrificing some things for the benefit of others may not be the best choice. Fish getting rid of fish would not be good.

Or we can pray that God enlarges our pond like He did for Jabez and other people in the Bible.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’shouse to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1-2

But you have increased the nation, O Lord, you have increased the nation you are glorified; you have enlarged all the border of the land. Isaiah 26:15

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much more. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21

“Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well.” 2 Corinthians 10:15

Enlarging our territory is often a reward for being faithful (staying alive in the case of the fish) and a promise of God’s plan for our lives. It’s a good thing, but as you will see, not simple or easy. It involves challenges, facing the unknown, hard work, and patient endurance. But in the end, it will be marvelous.

Stay tuned for Part 2 – Digging