God can use our pain for His glory.

SCRIPTURE | Genesis 37–50

CENTRAL TRUTH

Life sometimes doesn’t go the way we think it will. But detours and struggles can actually have a purpose in our lives and in the lives of those around us. The detours can increase our faith when we realize God is present with us at all times.

Key question

WHY DO WE SOMETIMES LET OUR CIRCUMSTANCES DETERMINE WHETHER WE THINK GOD IS WITH US OR NOT?

Keep in Mind

There is a real push in culture to adopt a victim mentality when bad things happen. This means to immediately view yourself as the victim and someone else as at fault. It also usually means you quickly adopt an attitude of despair and helplessness. You focus on what’s been done to you instead of how God could use the situation. Victim mentality drags us—and our students—into a self-focused state instead of helping us see what God’s purpose may be in the situation. Now, this we mustn’t confuse this with situations where we or our students really are victims of someone else’s bad choices. In those cases of abuse or neglect, we need to encourage students to reach out for help. Even in those circumstances, God is with us. And rather than embracing victimhood, we can embrace the victory Christ has already accomplished for us in His death and resurrection. 

APPLICATION

How could believing God is always with you and that He brings goodness from pain help you approach difficult seasons?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: God is a redeemer of His people, and He even redeems our pain. We can place it at His feet. We can trust Him in sickness, grief, and betrayal. We can trust Him because He is faithful (2 Tim. 2:13).

FOR THE LEADER: When we walk through pain with the mindset that God is sovereign and good, He will use it to grow us, to show us more of Himself, and to make us more like Him. Our pain can point our students to God’s goodness and faithfulness.