You’ll Get Through This OBS Week 1 — You’ll Get Through This

Did you know that through is a favorite word of God’s? Isaiah 43:2 reads, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you”

You’ll get through this.

Hey, friends! Welcome to the You’ll Get Through This Online Bible Study with Max Lucado.

I’m Laurie McClure, one of your OBS leaders and the editor at FaithGateway. In case we haven’t met, I’m a life-long Southern Californian who just recently moved to North Carolina, from coast to coast, and I’m still getting used to the sun rising over the ocean instead of setting over it! The beach is my happy place, especially when it’s foggy and empty. I was married for twenty-four years and have five kids, and now grandmama to a darling wheaten Scottish Terrier puppy named Ginny! I love Jesus, hiking, boating, and going to the movies. There’s nothing like hot buttered popcorn, a large cherry diet ginger ale, a good friend, and a great film! Next to movies, I’m a big Bible study nerd from a family of preachers and this study of Joseph’s life is one of my favorites!

If you haven’t met Max yet, you’re in for a treat. He’s a fantastic Bible teacher, a pastor who gets straight to your heart, and most of all a lover of Jesus and introducing people to Him and His heart for us. Max and his wife, Denalyn, live in San Antonio, Texas, where he preaches. They have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Just so you know, Max is the real deal. In a time of crushing suffering, I had the privilege of hearing him speak these wise, instructive, and empathic words right to my face, one-on-one:

You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime, don’t be foolish or naive. But don’t despair either. With God’s help, you will get through this. ~ Max

Is there any more important message during this time? Especially now.

If you’ve got a pulse, then you’ve got a few problems. It’s just part of life. We’re either coming out of a crisis, in the middle of a crisis, or headed toward a crisis. ~ Max

That’s where we meet Joseph, a man shaped and sharpened by crisis after crisis. We see his brothers’ cavalier and callous attitudes toward the torture and agony they caused him. Laughing and eating while he’s terrified and crying out, “Help! Don’t leave me in here!” Maybe they mocked him. Spat. Joseph was caught off-guard by the serrated cuts of their indifference and apathy.

Isn’t that the way it goes for us, too?

Ordinary people face very real pain! Even at the hands of those who are supposed to love and care for us, or from whom we expected friendship or solidarity, or from circumstances colliding into trauma, suffering, isolation, and darkness that only grows darker and darker.

In that pit, we weep and groan, and feel like the pain is permanent. Life will never be whole again. How could it possibly? It’s too broken, too destroyed, too poisoned and shredded.

God will use your mess for good. We see a perfect mess; God sees a perfect chance to train, test, and teach. ~ Max

When the penny drops, when we remember that God is good, and He is overflowing with loving-kindness, and He always has a remarkably beautiful resolution in mind that we could never imagine. Especially from the pit. And we can lash ourselves to that rock-solid truth of His faithfulness, His mightiness to save, then we find strength and peace. Endurance. Hope.

Hang on, friend. You’ll get through this.

This week in your study:

1. Watch the video for session one on our study home page and take notes in your study guide on pages 13-17 and then DON’T GO AWAY! Hang out for the conversation with our OBS community afterward!
2. Go through the study questions with your group or on your own on pages 17-21.
3. Read chapter 1 in the You’ll Get Through This
4. Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 23-28.
5. Join the conversations about the study and get to know fellow participants in our private Facebook group.

Scriptures this Week

Genesis 37:23-25
Genesis 42:21

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, we love You. Thank You for the life of Joseph that we get to study during these six weeks. Help us to walk the way he did, with integrity and without quitting. When we’re in a pit, give us wisdom to know You are with us and You will get us through this. Lord, even give us the grace to pray for those who have thrown us in a pit, sold us out, caused us harm. We love You, Jesus. Amen.