Making the Best of a Bad Situation

High School

Lesson 10
Fall 2026
By: RLD Editorial Team
November 08, 2026

Lesson Focus:

We can grow in tough times.

Bible Basis:

James 1:1-8, 12; Psalm 32:6-10

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

Index Cards
Pens/pencils

Summary & Links:

Students will look for inspiration to persevere through hard times by hearing stories of international ministry leaders making the best out of difficult situations.

Memory Verse:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, the person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
—James 1:12

Students will look for inspiration to persevere through hard times by hearing stories of international ministry leaders making the best out of difficult situations.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

Begin today’s lesson by offering up the following scenario to your class.

You wake up tomorrow to find yourself on a deserted island, alone. You have no food, no supplies, no shelter, and to top it all off you somehow managed to lose your shoes and shirt. Sounds pretty hopeless right?

What would you do in a situation like this? How would you overcome this trial? (Allow a few students to share their responses to this question.)

Ultimately, in a less-than-ideal environment, you have a choice to make. You can wallow in your own self-pity and hope that someone comes to rescue you, or you could make the best of a bad situation.

This year has been filled with less-than-ideal scenarios for many people around the world, including those affected by the wars across the globe and the fires across the United States. Many individuals and families in the United States have also faced incredible difficulties this year. Let’s take a look at a story of one family who has had an incredibly difficult year.

Play the following video for your students [2:06]: A Florida teen went through leg amputation surgery after suffering from a rare condition

Were you surprised by Jasmine’s family being so positive and grateful despite having to see their daughter endure such a difficult illness? Why or why not? (Accept all reasonable responses.)

Someone as young as Jasmine is probably one of the last people we’d expect to suffer from a serious health condition that resulted in necessary amputation. Her family had to watch her suffer, and even though they knew she’d live, they had to watch Jasmine go through an amputation and re-learn how to live her everyday life as an amputee. Jasmine’s family had every excuse to be bitter because of these circumstances, but they instead chose to be grateful that she was alive and recovering.

This is just one example of a family making the most of an incredibly challenging situation. Today, we’ll learn today that a level of heavenly perseverance and innovation lies within every one of us; we just need to call upon God to access it. Let’s take a look.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

Index Cards
Pens/pencils

If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring supplies with them to class.

So far, we have discovered that we can find fulfillment and wisdom in hardship, so long as we can persevere through life’s trials. However, talking about pressing through obstacles and actually doing it are two very different things. Because of this, it can be beneficial to set goals in order to gain perspective on our situation.

Our lesson today has demonstrated that life often requires us to encounter hardships in order to do what’s most important to us. Yet, for some reason, we’re much less willing to embrace hardship. It might be helpful, then, to find some way to reframe our circumstances in a manner that causes us to look for ways to make the most of hard situations.

Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home). Invite students to write a hard situation they’re currently experiencing. Then, challenge them to think of ways they can make the most of the hard situations. Challenge your students to spend time in prayer and reflection in order to think about how they can make the most of other hard situations in their lives. Encourage them to document their progress and share their solutions with the class in the coming weeks.

Close in prayer.

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

High School