INITIATION:

Like a cancer undetected and untreated, bitterness has the potential to infiltrate and destroy the lives of your students. But the good news is that the Bible provides the cure. as you teach this lesson, be aware that you are in a position to communicate ‘s truth about one of the most devastating weapons of the enemy — including how to defeat it.

Although your students may not have faced circumstances as tragic as those described in the Book of Job, they’ve probably experienced some type of grief. Perhaps they’ve mourned over the death of a pet, the breakup of friendship, or missed opportunity. Others may have suffered deeper Josses, such as the death of a close family member or the divorce of parents. How your students choose to deal with each difficulty determines whether they’ll emerge with bitterness about the problem or thankfulness for God’s provision.

Search your own heart as you prepare for this week’s study. Are there any traces of bitterness over past failures, hurts, or disappointments? If so, begin looking for the blessings and opportunities to depend on God in every circumstance. And praise Him for His peace, provision, and care. You’ll” soon gain a new perspective and clearly have a joyful attitude.
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UNIT 4:

TURNING THE TIDE OF EMOTIONS
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BIBLE TEXT:

Job 1:13-22: 2:7-13; 3:4; 6:4; 42:10-13; Psalms 34:1; 42:10-13
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SUBJECT:

FROM BITTERNESS TO GRATITUDE
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KEY VERSE:

…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5 KJV).
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MAIN LESSON DISCOURSE

Explain to students…

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
We can avoid bitterness by working through grief, relying on God, accepting the encouragement from others, and maintaining an attitude of gratitude.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Bitterness robs us of joy and can destroy our faith in God.

HOW DO I LIVE IT?
Depend on God in all things, praise Him for the blessings He provides, and allow Him to change your perspective.

>>Activity Option: Discuss with students the following questions:
• Is it possible to avoid all tragedy? Why or why not? Why would it not be a good idea to expect that we can avoid all tragedy? [Hint: Although being careful and following safety guidelines are good, we are not in complete control of our circumstances. We will be sadly disappointed and discouraged if we expect life to go perfectly all the time.]

Guide: Explain that we can learn much from the life of Job about dealing with bitter circumstances without becoming swallowed up in bitterness. He faced grief and loss but didn’t allow these things to leave him bitter.

Study Overview:* Explain that today’s study considers...
• Job’s response to loss and tragedy.
• The dangers of bitterness and ways to avoid it.
• How and why to praise God in the midst of tragedy.

>>Inform and Discuss

A). BITTER TRIALS

Grief:

1. Read or have volunteers read Job 1:13-19; 2:7-8. How do you think you would react if you were Job? [Guide: In the cause of discussion, note some recent disasters that have left people without family or property and threatened their health. Talk about some responses to tragedy they may have seen from these people. Explain that everyone experiences toss, but some circumstances are harder to face than others. Every joss involves a different level of grief. But God can help us get through grief no matter how deep it goes. Nonetheless, grief is a process, and how we handle our losses determines whether the experience will lead to bitterness or joy.]

Withdrawal

1. Read or have a volunteer read Job 2:9-13. How should we respond to someone in deep emotional pain? [Hint: Job’s friends cried with him, then sat silently with him for seven days. Maintaining contact, listening, praying, and just being there can bring comfort, strength, and healing.]

2. How should we react when others try to comfort us? [Hint: Our first reaction is often to push others away. However, people watch Christians during hard times to see if faith helps us to react differently. A gracious response — even to those who us to curse God —can be a great testimony to unbelievers.]

Guide: Explain that when we face a major loss, we should seek help from Christians who are encouraging. This isn’t always easy because we might want to close ourselves off from everyone. But these friends can help us look at things from a new perspective. Just being around other people reminds us that life goes on and can actually be good again. We shouldn’t avoid those whom God has sent to help us.

Bitterness

1. Read or have a volunteer read Job 3:1; 6:4. Was Job correct when he said that God was against him? Explain. [Hint: Job was mistaken when he believed that God had afflicted him. Yet, Job was truthful, admitting that he had wished to have never been born instead of living through this terrible trial.]

2. Discuss with students the danger of allowing a bitter situation to change someone into a bitter person. [Note: Bitterness colours everything in a person’s life. After suffering a big loss, we may begin to think loss will be the norm. Such thoughts diminish our trust in God and cause us to lose heart. Embittered people often refuse the very help they need to turn things around. Their bitterness can also wound their friends and family members.]

3. Ask students why they think some people blame God when bad things happen. Is it okay to question God’s plan? Why or why not? [Note: We may wonder what God is doing, but we must never accuse Him of wronging us. God always has our best interest in mind — even if we don’t understand what is happening. ]

Guide: Explain that the most tragic effect of bitterness is the tendency to turn away from God. Although He can offer us help and comfort, we sometimes shun God because we blame Him. This brings about a vicious cycle of bitterness because without God we have no hope.

B). PRAISE AND PERSPECTIVE

1. Read or have a volunteer read Job 1:20-22; 2:9-10. Ask students to list some of the ways Job responded to his trials. Then discuss applications from each answer. [Hint:
   • He tore his robe and shaved his head: Grief should be expressed openly rather than ignored or hidden.
   • He fell to the ground: Our circumstances do not change God’s worthiness; He alone can change our circumstances or give the strength to get through them.
   • He acknowledged that all he had came from God and it was God’s to take: Don’t allow possessions to define who you are or how you think God feels about you.
   • He blessed God’s name: Bless God at all times, even when others: choose to blame or curse Him.]

Guide: Remind students that praise is the first step in turning bitterness to joy. Bitterness usually includes hopelessness. It takes our eyes off God and puts them on the loss. Praise puts our focus where it needs to be: on the one who can help us. Praising God amidst challenges is both an act of faith and a clear testimony of our understanding of His sovereignty — Gen 18:14; Job 42:2.

1. Read or have volunteers read Psalms 34:1; 42:10-11. Why should we place our hope in God even when He doesn’t seem to be answering our cries? [Hint: Like Job and David, we may think that God is unaware or uncaring. But that’s not the case. God has a plan, and He will take the right action in His perfect timing. It pleases God when we remain faithful to Him even when we don’t understand.]

2. Read or have volunteers read Psalms 30:5; Job 42:10-13. How can these verses be a comfort to us when we are hurting or going through a hard time? [Hint: There are always good things in the future when we serve God faithfully. It’s true that we may not see them now. And it’s likely we won’t fully understand why we go through hard times until we get into eternity. But we can rest in the perfect hope that God has great things in store for us.]

Guide: Explain that we need to praise God even when we’re grieving. First, we praise Him, then our feelings change. Praise helps us to focus on God’s goodness, holiness, and power. Then joy begins to break through, like the sun through storm clouds. Recovery from loss and bitterness often begins with praise.

>>Involve Them:
Play the song “No Man Is an Island” by Tenth Avenue North from the album Islands-EP..
Ask the students to share times when they felt like retreating from the people around them. Have students discuss people in their lives who reached out and encouraged them when they were in a low place. Explore ways that they can also reach out and be encouraging to others during difficult times.

>>Inspire Them:
Remind students THE BASIC MESSAGE of this study (pg 061), even as you point out the Big Idea behind the study; WHY it matters; and HOW we can live the lesson learned.

>>Invitation Option:
Offer to pray with any student who wants to begin a relationship with Jesus. Also pray for individuals who are struggling with grief and loss. Then conclude by thanking God for the help he provides through the hard times in life.

>>Teacher Hint:
Ask Yourself...

1. Do students understand that loss and tragedy are a part of life and that it’s important to deal with them from a godly perspective?
2. Can they list some practical ways to minister to someone who is grieving?
3. Bo they realize that god is worthy of praise regardless of their circumstances?

>>Daily Dew Drops
Mon: Gospel According to My Life - Matt 5:13-16
Tue: The Wise - Prov 11:30
Wed: Leading Many to Righteousness - Dan 12:2-3
Thu: Fitted for Witness - 1Corinth 9: 16-23
Fri: Go for the Prize - 1Corinth 9:24-26
Sat: Save that Soul - James 5:19-20; Jude 20-23.
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DISCLAIMER:

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