WE CAN TRUST THAT VICTORY IN GOD IS BETTER THAN ANY VICTORY WE COULD EARN. 

SCRIPTURE | Joshua 6:1-21 

CENTRAL TRUTH 

God is okay with our pure longing to understand more about Him and His ways. But allowing our understanding to dictate our faithfulness to God and His commands is dangerous. Faith calls us to follow Him no matter what—even when it doesn’t make sense. 

KEY QUESTION 

DO GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS ALWAYS MAKE SENSE TO THE WORLD? HOW CAN WE LIVE OUT BIBLICAL TRUTH EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS FOOLISH? 

KEEP IN MIND 

Because of cultural norms, many students have an entitled need to understand why. If someone tells them not to do something, they demand to know why. If they don’t like the explanation, they may do it anyway. This starts when we’re children. Sometimes our need to know why is sinful defiance; sometimes it stems from a genuine longing to understand. We need to let students know that God is okay with our pure longing to understand more about Him and His ways. But allowing our understanding to dictate our faithfulness to God and His commands is dangerous. Let’s be honest: some of God’s commands are hard to accept because they go against our sinful desires. Our flesh wants to sin. Sometimes we justify ignoring God’s instructions because we don’t receive a full explanation or we don’t like the one we do read in His Word. We can help students see that this leads to picking and choosing what parts of God’s Word we follow. 

APPLICATION 

WHERE DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH TRUSTING GOD’S PLANS? HOW CAN YOU ACT IN FAITH THIS WEEK? 

THE WIN 

FOR THE STUDENT: Students can give their doubts over to God. They can confess how they’re feeling while continuing to walk in faith toward what they can’t yet see. God is with them, and He is ahead of them. Even when their faith wavers, He is still faithful (2 Tim. 2:13). 

FOR THE LEADER: Many of us would say we believe God is trustworthy; we know He keeps His word. But when it comes time to apply that truth to our own lives—to our hurt, disappointment, stress, worry—we lean more toward doubt. God is faithful to us in all seasons. Spend time looking back at His faithfulness in your life.