Did your life get off to a rough start? Maybe it was your family, your health, a bad decision or a season you would rather forget. In this message from Sunday, July 19, 2026, Pastor Linda Reese shows from 1 Chronicles that a bad beginning does not have to decide how your story ends.

The man whose name meant pain

Tucked into a long list of names in 1 Chronicles 4:9–10 is a man called Jabez. His mother named him that because she bore him in pain. He started life with a label nobody would want. But Jabez did something about it: he prayed.

“Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil.” And God granted him that which he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)

Jabez didn’t pretend his start was good. He took it to God, invited God into all of it, and God answered.

Replace worry with thanks and trust

Pastor Linda encouraged us to “make a good list” of what God has already done, because gratitude changes what we see (1 Chronicles 16:29). She pointed to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25–34 about not worrying over tomorrow, and to King Asa, who faced an army far bigger than his own and prayed, “Help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Fear not, be strong, and trust Him (1 Chronicles 22:13).

Put God first, and think on purpose

The Lord is with you while you are with Him (2 Chronicles 15:2), and His eyes search the whole earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). That starts in our thoughts and words. “This is the day which the LORD hath made” (Psalm 118:24) is a choice we make in the morning. Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts please God (Psalm 19:14), and let our minds be renewed (Romans 12:2, Philippians 2:5).

Right choices and a song of praise

King Jehoshaphat appointed judges and told them to serve faithfully, because God was with them (2 Chronicles 19). When a great army came against Judah, he sent singers out ahead of the soldiers, praising God, and the Lord won the battle (2 Chronicles 20). Praise came first, and the victory came after.

This week

Write your own “good list” of what God has done for you. Then take the part of your story that started badly and pray about it the way Jabez did, honestly and specifically. Ask God to be with you in it.

Starting over? There’s a seat for you any Sunday at 10:00 AM. Plan your visit.