Strength for the Climb: The Gift That Survived the Pit

Today we begin a new series—Strength for the Climb. It’s based on the scriptures our children will explore at this year’s Vacation Bible School in just a few weeks. Each day of VBS, the kids will explore stories from scripture that illustrate how God is with us through every season of life, and we don’t have to do hard things on our own. The theme verse for both VBS is Philippians 4:13: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." When Paul wrote those words, he wasn't standing on the winner's podium—he was sitting in prison. Right before that verse, he says, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation..." Then comes the famous line: "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." The strength Paul is talking about isn't the strength to avoid hardship—life is going to have difficult moments. Paul reminds us that with God, we have the strength to persevere through anything—not only to endure it, but because God is God, God can use those hardships and challenges to help us become more of who God created us to be. And that's exactly what we see in Joseph.