Thursday, November 20, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Colossians 3

Last weekend, we continued our series At the Movies with Unstoppable. The film was inspired by Anthony Robles, a one-legged wrestler whose dream was to win a national collegiate championship at Iowa.

When those dreams seemed crushed, Arizona’s coach, Shawn Charles, shared a parable about a Chinese farmer who had an old horse to till his field. One day, the horse escaped but returned days later with an entire herd of wild horses. The farmer told his son, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”

The farmer’s son was later riding one of the new horses when he fell off and broke his leg. Again, the farmer said, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?” But when the army came to town and drafted all the young men, except the farmer's son, he exclaimed, “Lucky I broke my leg!” To which the farmer replied, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”

Sometimes what feels like a setback can be a setup for something greater.

In the book of Genesis, the Bible gives us an example of this through the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). Joseph was favored by his father, hated by his brothers, and sold into slavery which landed him in Egypt. While enslaved, he earned his master’s trust but was falsely accused and imprisoned.

Even in prison, Joseph stayed faithful, interpreting dreams that eventually led to his release and his rise to second-in-command over Egypt. Good luck, bad luck, who knows?

When famine struck, the very brothers who betrayed him came to Egypt seeking food. Joseph not only forgave them, but recognized God’s plan in his story: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

Romans 5:3-4
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Both Anthony’s and Joseph’s journeys remind us that what looks like bad luck can be the very thing God uses to shape our faith and character.

So when life takes an unexpected turn, prayerfully consider pausing before labeling it as good or bad. Good luck, bad luck … God knows!

Questions:
What obstacles are you facing? Can you see how endurance is being built in these hard places? If not, take one step, one day, and one prayer to get started on overcoming the obstacles.

Next Steps:
Read Joseph’s full story in Genesis 37-50, reflecting on how Joseph faced his trials with faith and endurance.

Click the link to discover that God uses our trials to shape our character and deepen our hope. We should live free, but also faithfully trust, keep moving, and keep enduring, knowing that every step with God strengthens what matters most.

Prayer:
Father, open my eyes so I can see that every trial that I face produces endurance and deepens my hope in salvation. Help me to run the race set before me, knowing that it’s from you. You are always with me, and I continually rely on you for strength. I love you; I praise you; and I thank you. It’s in Jesus’ name that I pray, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

This post was written by Jenn Macke, a Findlay attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.