October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 women will die due to this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, almost 25 percent of all deaths are due to cancer.

With statistics like these, it is likely that at least one of the youth you serve has a family member or friend who is suffering with this disease. Intense treatment options and bleak prognoses can cause even the strongest among us to give up hope. No one knows for certain if her or his battle with cancer will be won or lost. With that uncertainty, we find ourselves expecting the worst so that we are not disappointed. However, even in the most unpromising situations, God promises to always be there as our source of hope.

Live in hope

There are many times in Scripture when we are called to find hope in God and God’s Word. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. When we trust that God is in control of our lives, we can have hope that the dire situations we face will turn out for good in the end. We can also find hope in the Bible as we read stories of people who felt disheartened and turned to God in order to raise their spirits and experience peace.

God will take care of you

Youth today may find themselves in hopeless circumstances, such as dealing with the death of a family member, struggling with depression, or living on a limited household income due to unemployment. Whatever the situation, we can assure them that God is always watching out for us and promises to be our source of hope in times of need.

Question of the day: When have you hoped for the best but prepared for the worst?

Focal Scriptures: Psalm 25; Mark 5:21-43; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.