Leader Guide

Objective
Students will learn that God is still trustworthy even when nothing turns out the way we wanted.

Warm Up
Before the study, look for instructions on how to do an origami animal such as a frog. Put these instructions on a series of 3x5 cards. Each student will need a square of paper.

Together we will make origami animals. You need to follow the step-by-step instructions. As we go along, you can try to guess what is being made.
Read the card for Step 1 and have each student follow along. Repeat for each step until finished.

Transition
As we went through this exercise, none of you knew the result but I did and you trusted me to guide you through the flips, turns, and folds that would happen along the way. And I got you there. A life following God is the same way. He knows all the steps you need to take. When we just see one step, He sees them all.

The Video
Play “Hills and Horizons” by Futures. As the music video plays, pay attention to the lyrics.

• What lyrics stood out to you?

Transition
This song is a song of trust – trusting God with your life. Trust is easy on the lips but hard to swallow at times. We have all been let down by people we thought we could trust at times.But God will not. Time after time, God has shown His trustworthiness.

Bible Study
Read Psalm 118:8

Psalm 118:8 is the answer to a trivia question because it is the verse that is referred to at times as the center verse of the Bible.

Read Psalm 9:9-11
David faced many challenges and a variety of foes but he seems to have always kept his faith and trust in God.

• What do these verses say about God?

As students respond, highlight the responses that speak of God’s faithfulness, strength, or safety.

The Hebrew word translated as both stronghold and refuge is misgab. It is alternatively translated as high tower or defense.

Misgab was also a place in Moab; it was a fortress on the highlands of Moab. When trouble comes you run to the castle. God is our castle.

• How does this promise of His protection make you feel?
• How does this passage say we should respond?

When we realize we can trust Him we sing and shout His praises. And if we vocalize those, that means others will be hearing it. This is one way we initiate evangelism as well. People don’t want what we have until they know how great what we have is.

Share a personal story of a time you have had to just trust God whether it worked out how you wanted to or not.

Read Romans 8:18-30

• How does Paul describe his life?

Paul says that even with the things he has suffered, he has hope. He trusts God. He doesn’t see it all yet, but he trusts that he will. He is eagerly anticipating it. Even though he uses words like suffering, bondage, decay, and groaning- there is hope.

Romans 8:28 is an often-quoted verse: “We know all things work together for the good of those who love God.”

Wrap Up
In an interview, Mark Evans of the band Futures stated, “There is a beautiful collision within this song in that it’s deeply personal and yet manages to articulate the shared human experience we’ve all lived through these last few years.”
The last few years have upset the “normal” but nothing has surprised God and He has already seen what is next and even what is after that. We can trust Him.
Romans 8:29-30 gives us great hope – we will be not only justified but glorified. And that is why we can trust God.

• Do you trust God?
• Have you ever told God “here’s my life, forgive me of my sins, and I place my trust in You”?
• If not, then what prevents you from trusting Him right now?
• Let’s pair you up with someone to talk this out today.
• Perhaps you have placed your trust in Him.
• Is there something you are having difficulty trusting Him with right now?

Let’s pray about it and if you want to speak to one of our leaders then let’s talk about it.

Playlist
This song is featured on "The Linc: Trust" Spotify playlist – which is the perfect way to remind your students what you’ve taught them in this session. To share it with them, click the live link on the web version of this study.