12 Feb, 2007
You probably heard about it. The ugly night of December 16th. Whether you’re a basketball fan you probably saw it all over the news. It was the brawl between the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets. It was an ugly scene that led to 10 players (five on each team) getting suspended for a number of games. The harshest penalty (15 game suspension) was handed out to the leading scorer in the league, Carmello Anthony. The New York Knicks were already a bad team, winning only nine of 26 games until that ugly night. Ironically the next team that the Knicks had to face was the second best team in the league, the Utah Jazz, who had won 18 of their 24 games. The Knicks only had eight players for the Utah game. Knicks fans expected the worst. “Could any good come out of this?”
Surprisingly the Knicks beat Utah that night. Since the brawl and the suspensions, the Knicks have 13-11 win-loss record and have played better basketball than they played in a few years.
Can any good come out of bad situations? It happens in sports sometimes. It happens in our lives all the time through God’s power and mercy.
Have you ever been in a tough situation that seemed like no good could ever come out? Sometimes it feels like there is no way God can turn around the bad things that happen to us, but that’s not true. God takes the toughest situations and turns it around to do more good.
Tough Times
John 11:17-23
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
John 11:39-45
39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, (ESV)
What happened?
Lazarus died and Jesus heard about this. When he finally gets to the family all hope is lost for Lazarus, who has been dead for four days. This wasn’t a happy situation. Lazarus was a man who many people loved. Jesus shows us that even when things seem bad, God can use the situation and make so much good come from it. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Even better, the Bible tells us that many people believed in Jesus after that.How can you connect God’s Story to your story?
What about you? Do you know that Jesus can take your toughest and most hopeless situations and make good come out of it? It’s true. When we stop trying to fix it ourselves and ask and trust Jesus to help us, he works them out in ways where so many more good things come out.When God walks you through those tough situations, it prepares you to help others in similar situations. You can help them know God’s Love and how much he cares for them because you know he cares for you.
How can you connect God’s Story and Your Story to others?
- When hard times show up, don’t panic or lose faith. Use the tough moments to trust God more. Be confident God is with you.
- Remember to thank God for the tough times he helped you get through, no matter how big or small they were. Journal them so you don’t forget.
- Share your experiences going through difficult times with your friends and show them how God is always there to make the difference.
- Be alert to what is happening to your friends. When life gets tough for them be sure to show up and offer to help them and pray for them.
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
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- December 2011 [20]
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- August 2011 [22]
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- January 2011 [21]
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- August 2010 [21]
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- June 2010 [20]
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- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
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- August 2008 [19]
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- June 2008 [11]
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- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
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- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
