INTRODUCTION

AN ANGEL APPEARS TO JOSEPH

Bible Point:

Trust God’s plan for our lives.

Key Verse:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Big Picture:

Trust God’s plans for your life, even in the midst of the most difficult situations.

An Angel Appears to Joseph

Isaiah 7:13-14 | Matthew 1:18-25

In middle school, people start wanting more independence. You want to make your own choices and follow your own plans. That’s a good thing! God designed you with those desires. But this week, we learned that God also has plans for your life, plans that are even better than anything you could imagine right now. God’s plans are always good and filled with purpose. Even if you can’t see the whole picture yet, you can trust that following God’s direction will lead you to something greater than you could plan for yourself.

TRY THIS

Over a meal with your family, talk about one area in which each of you struggles to trust God’s plans. For example, maybe someone struggles in trusting God with the family finances, maybe someone struggles in trusting God with a difficult work relationship, or maybe someone struggles in trusting God with history homework. Commit to pray daily for the person on your right. During the week, be sure to ask each other how the trust issue is going, and at the end of the week, have a time for all family members to report how they saw God at work in their struggles during the week. Trust God that he will be faithful to be involved in your lives as you pray and seek his plans!

DAILY CHALLENGES

• WHAT are you trusting God for right now? Write down your prayer, pray it every morning or night, and add to it as you discover where God’s leading you each day.

• TALK to a trusted Christian adult or friend. Ask how he or she sees God working in your life right now and what plans God might be trying to show you.

• SHARE with a friend how you’re trusting in God right now. Let your friend know that God has plans for them, too. Pray for God’s plan for your friend. Ask if you can pray right there with your friend.