GOD IS AT WORK IN HARD TIMES
Read Romans 5:3-4.
What are the three things suffering produces? Read Romans 8:28. What does God do? God is at work during hard times. No one likes to go through tough situations, but you can trust that God is with you doing good things in the midst of a hard time. He will strengthen your character. Hard times give you perseverance and a stronger faith. When your faith grows stronger you will see the hope God gives you even more and you will be ready to face the next challenge life brings. He works all things, even the bad, for the good of those who love Him… that’s YOU!
GOD WILL HELP YOU
Read Isaiah 41:10
Why should you not fear? What are the three things God will do for you? Life can have some crazy challenges, but God promises that He will strengthen you and help you. He will even hold you up with His hand. Here’s the good news: since God is righteous (meaning His ways are right), you can trust that if He is holding you up, you have nothing to worry about. Explain a time when God has helped you and write about it. (Examples: Maybe God taught you something in His Word, or maybe He used one of His people to give you advice.)
GOD FIGHTS FOR YOU
Read Exodus 14:14
What will the Lord do for you? What is the only thing you must do? If God asks you to fight a battle, He will fight right alongside you. God is with you and will fight for you. When life takes a turn for the worse, don’t get discouraged. You have a fighter on your side. He might do things differently than you would, but the good news is that He always wins, and it benefits everyone… including you!
DIG DEEPER
Read Joshua 6:1-21.
See how God literally fought the battle against Jericho in the Old Testament. Israel obeyed God’s instructions and the walls came tumbling down!
GOD HELPS YOU OVERCOME THE WORLD
Read John 16:33
What can God give you? What does He tell you will happen when you live in the world? Why should you not be discouraged? There is no avoiding it… you will have some trouble during your life on earth. Life has its ups and downs, but when life has you down, you can keep your head up because God promises to be with you. In fact, He does more than just be with you. God has overcome the world. Jesus, God Himself, came into the world and didn’t sin one time… not once. The world, and all its temptations could not tempt Him. He defeated the one thing everyone is scared of… death. This is the God you have with you always. He lived in the world without sin and He defeated death. He is there to help YOU overcome the world while you live in it. And when it’s time for you to leave the earth; you will defeat death by living forever in eternity. Here are a few ways God can help you overcome the world while you live in it: Are there any you want to try this week? – Turn the other cheek – Be kind – Be slow to anger – Watch your words – Do not gossip. What are some other ways you can overcome the world?

DIG DEEPER
Read Mark 4:35-41
See how Jesus calmed the storm when He was on the boat with His disciples.
GOD IS WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
Fill in the Blank: God will not let you be ______________ beyond what you can endure. When you are tempted what will God do for you? Temptation is a daily thing. God promises that He will give you a way out every time you are tempted. To do this, He has to be with you. Temptations are challenging in life. It isn’t easy to walk away from the temptation to do something you know is wrong. God promises He won’t allow anything to tempt you that you cannot handle. He also promises to be with you and give you a way out a way to choose the right thing. Here are examples of how God gives you a way out: – Advice from a Godly friend or mentor – Guidance from your mom or dad – God’s Word – The Holy Spirit (The small voice in your head saying you shouldn’t”is the Holy Spirit) Sometimes God puts obstacles in the way to keep you from sinning…Thanks, God! Are there any other ways God can give you a way out of temptation?