Sunday Bulletin – 19 July 2026

Sister Elizabeth Daniel | Jul 19, 2026

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,
Today are you in a place of discouragement and sorrow because nothing is going well for you? Has it been said of you that your will only cause “trouble and pain?” Have you been treated like an outcast because there is nothing good in your life?

There is one such person in the Bible. Jabez. This man’s name meant “trouble”, “He will cause pain.” The bible says that his mother called him “Jabez – Because I bore him with sorrow.” There are no family links mentioned about him, but stuck between the chapters of genealogies, lists of names is the touching story of this man. What did Jabez do in this his sorrowful state? The word of God tells us that Jabez “called upon the name of the Lord God of Israel.” “‘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 4:10)
There are 5 requests that Jabez asked of God:
1.⁠ ⁠“bless me indeed”
2.⁠ ⁠“enlarge my territory”
3.⁠ ⁠“Your hand be with me”
4.⁠ ⁠“You keep me from evil”
5.⁠ ⁠“I may not cause pain”-You keep me from causing grief or pain. The most heartening part of this bible portion is the fact the verse ends with the statement, “So God granted him what he requested.” What a glorious end to what was sorrowful and grieving! What an awesome glimpse into the heart of God and His nature that He hears the cries of a broken man! What a hope to your heart knowing that in your worst times, in the time of need, helplessness and discouragement there is a God who will definitely – not “may” but most assuredly hear you! What a comfort to anyone who cries out from the depth of his heart in sorrow and pain to know that the Lord not only hears but also answers your prayers!

Beloved child of God, the Lord God knows exactly where you are, how you are, the state of your affairs, your standing, your bank balance, your heartaches and pain. But the Lord waits to see if you are crying out to Him. Do you call upon the name of the Lord God into your life, into your situation, into the pain and sorrow in your life? Yes, He knows it all but He wants to hear from you! Jabez cried out to the Lord and the Lord granted him his request. Son and Daughter, lost in sorrow and grief regarding your life, your hopeless condition, cry out to the Lord God with all your heart. David says in Psalm 34:6, “This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles.” Cry to the Lord. Bring your requests before the Lord God Almighty, the God who hears! And just as the Lord heard Jabez, and heard David and so many more from the Bible, He will surely hear you, and save you from your troubles. The shoulders of man to whom you bring your petitions to may fail you. Man may not give you a guarantee but the Lord never fails all those who come to Him. The Lord does not only deliver “a” trouble but “all” your troubles that you bring to Him. See what David says in the same Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of ‘all’ their troubles.”

Beloved, the word of God says to you: “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24) Be strong in the Lord! Expect answers for your prayers. Have hope in the Lord that He hears you and answers you and delivers you! Sing your praises to the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord! Testify of His goodness in the assembly of the saints! Shout a Hallelujah!

In the blessed name of Jesus,

Sister Elizabeth