Article by: Sarah Koontz
Our free RescYOUed Bible Study study is now available on-demand.
Now is the time to join the thousands of people who are already learning and growing through this online Bible study.
RescYOUed is a Bible study exploring the many ways God rescues His people from physical, emotional, and spiritual bondage.
Each day we will study a different name of God and meet new biblical characters who experienced God’s divine rescue.
Putting the RescYOUed study together for you forced me to spend countless hours in portions of the Bible I’d previously avoided.
And I am so grateful!
The process of writing this study revealed my tendency to focus my Bible study on parts of Scripture that make me feel good.
Sandwiched between “In the beginning, God…” (Gen. 1:1) and “Surely I am coming soon…” (Rev. 22:20b) is God’s specific revelation of His character.
Every single story—every single word—is in the Bible for a reason.
It all points to God’s compassionate desire to rescue and restore His creation.
We mustn’t succumb to the temptation to only study the parts we like or the ones that make us feel good.
If we do that, we run the risk of completely misjudging God’s character.
Stories of pain, suffering, and injustice are woven into the biblical story.
Why?
Because pain, suffering, and injustice are part of the human experience.
If you’ve ever wondered how God could possibly use the trials He’s allowed into your life for some greater purpose, the RescYOUed study is for you!
This free Bible study is packed with miraculous stories of a loving God using trials to build the testimony of His servants.
Every single story—every single word—is in the Bible for a reason.
This Bible study project was inspired by God’s repeated “Let My People Go!” statements recorded in the book of Exodus.
As I read through the story for the hundredth time, I couldn’t help but think of all God’s people who are living in some form of bondage today.
Entrapped by sinful behavior.
Bondservants to fear and regret.
Slaves of the opinions of others.
I have such compassion for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are walking through painful trials and tribulation.
Although I cannot completely know or understand your individual circumstances, I believe God is capable of using our trials to build our testimonies.
The Bible is filled with stories of people who were trapped in slavery (physical, emotional, spiritual) and God rescued them.
Their journeys were full of potholes, detours, and unexpected steep climbs. But through it all, God was faithful to them, and He was working in them.
If God used their trials to build their testimonies, couldn’t He also do the same for us?
The Bible is filled with stories of people who were trapped in all types of slavery and God rescued them. If God rescued them, couldn't He also rescue us?
Knowing God’s character puts our own stories of suffering into perspective.
Isaiah 12:2 says, “Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.”
El Yeshuati is the name for God used in this verse.
The same name for God also appears in Psalm 68:19, “Blessed be the Lord! Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation.”
Somewhere in the midst of all the pain, suffering, and injustice—God is working for our good and His glory.
If you've ever doubted God's ability or desire to rescue you from bondage, I invite you to join us for this free thirty-day Bible study.Here are five powerful examples from the RescYOUed study that show us how God uses trials to build the testimonies of His people:
1 – God Uses Trials to Teach us Endurance
God’s rescue plan for Noah and his family included more than a year on a stinky, cramped boat. (Genesis 6:5-14)
I’m certain there were moments when life on the ark didn’t feel like a gift of supernatural grace from above. God was leading Noah to a safe, dry place—but Noah had to trust Him during the endless stormy nights. Noah’s story teaches us that God’s divine rescue plan often requires us to trust His plan for our lives when it seems the rain will go on forever.
2 – God Uses Trials to Prove Himself Trustworthy
Hagar was confused, lost, and lonely when the Angel of the LORD appeared to her in the wilderness. (Genesis 16:7-14 )
God comforted her, whispered promises over her, and gave her hope for the future. Then He commanded Hagar to return to the very people who had caused her such pain. Even though Hagar had to endure much pain, God remained faithful to His word. Hagar’s story whispers hope into hopeless situations, reminding desperate ones that we serve a God who sees us when no one else seems to care.
3 – God Uses Trials to Test Our Faith
When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his promised son, Abraham responded in faith and a miracle occurred. (Genesis 22:6-14)
God understands our struggle with unbelief and lovingly provides belief-building circumstances in our lives. Unfortunately, these circumstances often require us to trust God with our most treasured possessions and our long-awaited provision. Belief in God allows us to obey when we don’t understand, have faith when we can’t see what He is doing, and experience the blessing of His provision when there is no earthly way.
4 – God Uses Trials to Shape Us Into His Image
God rescued a whole nation by sending Joseph into slavery. (Genesis 37:23-28)
To fulfill His promise to His people, God allowed Joseph to suffer injustice after injustice. Through it all, Joseph remained a committed servant of the Lord, and his life testifies to God’s faithfulness in the midst of unspeakable pain. Joseph’s life is a powerful demonstration of God’s ability to use injustice to shape His servants into usable vessels for His glory.
5 – God Uses Trials to Teach Us Dependency
Moses doubted, disobeyed, and drifted, but God never turned away from him.
Insecurity plagued Moses and threatened to cripple him, yet God persevered! God patiently answered Moses’ questions, calmed his fears, and reassured him. Moses’ story teaches us that God does not define us by our mistakes, but rather uses our weakness to teach us how to depend on Him for all things.
Today, you’ve had the opportunity to glimpse into the stories of the first five characters we will study together during RescYOUed.
If you’ve ever doubted God’s ability or desire to transform your trials into a powerful testimony of His divine power, I invite you to join us for this free thirty-day Bible study.
It is my prayer that the RescYOUed study will help you discover the many ways God uses our trials to build our testimony.
Register today for 'RescYOUed', a free Bible study exploring the many ways God rescues His people.
5 quick facts about the RescYOUed Bible Study:
- It’s convenient! The study comes straight to your e-mail each day.
- It’s quick! You can complete the study in less than 15-minutes per day.
- It’s free! And who doesn’t love FREE?!?
- You get rest days! The study follows five days on/two days off format.
- You get bonus gifts! We’ve packed the study with lots of digital freebies.
Throughout the study, you will receive daily e-mails including a brief Scripture reading and devotional along with shareable quote graphics.
We are excited to announce that we have included an audio version of the daily devotionals in each RescYOUed e-mail—making it easier than ever to learn on the go!
We encourage you to set aside a minimum of 10-15 minutes per day to complete the study, but don’t be surprised if you are tempted to linger a while longer over these powerful stories.
You will receive a welcome letter (+ digital gift pack) after confirming your subscription and the first devotional will arrive in your inbox within 24 hours.
And don’t forget to invite your friends!
