WE CAN TRUST GOD WITH OUR IMPOSSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES. 

SCRIPTURE | 1 Samuel 17:4-5,10-11,32-40,45-50 

CENTRAL TRUTH 

Knowing God is with us should change everything. We have the God of all creation on our side! He has already won the most important battle against sin and death. And while we may face difficult circumstances here, absolutely nothing can take away the victory Christ has already won. 

KEY QUESTION 

HOW SHOULD KNOWING GOD IS WITH US CHANGE THE WAY WE FIGHT OUR BATTLES? WHY DOES IT OFTEN NOT CHANGE ANYTHING? 

KEEP IN MIND 

Students may struggle with whether or not feeling fearful is a sin. Here’s the truth: Fear is our body’s natural, built-in response to a threat. Our bodies are designed to alert us to harm. Fear is actually meant to protect us from danger. So, the fact that we experience fear isn’t sinful. Instead, we can explain that what we do with that feeling determines if we’re walking by faith and trusting the Lord. When students face difficulties, they may rightfully feel afraid. Over and over in Scripture, God commanded His people not to fear—not to be afraid. The command was almost always paired with a reminder that God was with them. He instructed them on what to do with the fear; He told them to cast it aside. He reminded them of His nearness—of the truth that He was aware of their circumstances and fighting for them. When our students experience fear, we must remind them of what is true: God is near. He is faithful. He hasn’t forgotten them. He is fighting for them. 

APPLICATION 

HOW WOULD IT CHANGE THE WAY YOU HANDLE FEAR AND FIGHT YOUR BATTLES IF YOUR MOTIVE WAS FOR OTHERS TO KNOW GOD? 

THE WIN 

FOR THE STUDENT: The way students fight their battles shows the world what they believe about God. It reveals deep faith and dependence on the Lord, or it reveals a lack of trust. It reveals a belief that God is who He says He is. The way our students walk through fear matters. 

FOR THE LEADER: God is who He claims to be. He does what He says He’ll do. We can absolutely place our faith in that and step into battle with the motive to make Him known, especially to those students watching us walk.