Juliet in Uganda

We can learn to persevere because God is with us.

Ask:

What is one thing you’d love to be great at?

Take a second to close your eyes tight. Picture yourself doing that one thing. Maybe you’d love to be an amazing painter. Or maybe a star basketball player. Can you share one thing that scares you about what you just pictured?

Sometimes, hurdles stop us from trying something we’d love to try. Do you know what a hurdle is? It’s anything that stops us from doing something else. It could be fear, or it could be doubt.

We all feel this way sometimes. We all have fears that stop us from doing what God created us to do. But do you want to know something? We are the children of a God of the impossible—a God who holds our hand through our fears, no matter how big or small!

Juliet is our friend from Uganda. Uganda is a small country in Africa that gets warm summer weather all year round! It’s covered in big, green tropical trees that stretch as far as the eye can see! When Juliet visits the lakes near her home, she can see hippopotamuses and crocodiles swimming around. How cool is that?

Juliet loves school and playing with her friends. Her big smile can light up a room! But life hasn’t always been easy for Juliet. She was born with a condition that makes it hard for her to do things like walk and write. Her family couldn’t afford to bring her to the doctor for help, so she did whatever she could to teach herself to walk.

As she grew older, she started attending the local Compassion centre. They helped Juliet to see a doctor who gave her a walker and other supports that allowed her to walk more freely. Even though movements like walking and writing with her hands have been hard for her, she keeps going because of the love that God has surrounded her with. Isn’t Juliet amazing?

“At school, children used to stare at me and laugh at me when I was walking. [But my family and Compassion centre] told me they love me. I feel happy,” says Juliet.

Juliet is learning that there is hope to be found because God has given her everything she needs to keep going when things are hard.

Read the Bible verses for today together.

Ask and Discuss:

What hurdles did Juliet face, and how did she push through them?

How does God help us keep going through the hard things in our lives?

What truths can you tell yourself about God that can help you do the things that scare you?

Pray:

God, I know that You are with me in all my challenges. I know You’ve created me in Your image and with dreams in my heart. I pray that You will help me to persevere through the hard things in my life. Just like Juliet, I pray You would surround me with Your love and the love of others. Help me to remember that with You, all things are possible. Amen.