INTRODUCTION

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Bible Point:

God can grow us during hard times.

Key Verse:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Big Picture:

Grow through hard with God’s support.

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Genesis 29:15-30

Hard times can feel confusing and unfair, especially when you’re doing your best, working hard, and trying to make good choices. It’s easy to believe that if you’re smart and put in enough effort, you’ll be able to avoid really difficult seasons. But the truth is, some hard things are outside of your control. This study invites you to wrestle with that reality and to discover how, even when life is hard, God can help you grow resilient and keep going.

DAILY CHALLENGE

Choose one or more of these Daily Challenges to do this week.

• Talk with a Christian who is at least 10 years older than you about how they’ve seen God while experiencing a hard time.

• If you’re going through some hard times right now, write a letter to yourself about these struggles. Seal it and put it where you’ll find it before you go back to school in the fall, and then you’ll be able to see how God has worked in your life this summer.

• Draw a collage of pictures that represent hard times you’ve experienced. Thank God for the ways those times have helped you grow.

FAITH JOURNAL

In what way has your view of hard times been most challenged by this study?

TALK WITH YOUR FAMILY

Read James 1:2-4 with your family, and discuss these questions:

• How does this passage challenge and encourage you?

• How can someone consider going through hard times “pure joy”?

• What can we do during hard times to stay joyful and let God accomplish something good in us and for us?

As a family, make a warm drink to enjoy. As you drink it, talk about how the liquid had to “face the heat” to become your delicious drink, and how we must each experience hard times to grow. Ask older family members to talk about hardships or failures they’ve experienced and how they grew smarter or stronger, or developed deeper faith from those experiences.