One of the most important truths in Scripture is that God never tempts us or brings evil on us to teach us a lesson or accomplish His purpose. Many people mistakenly believe that God causes calamity or suffering, but Scripture is clear—God does not tempt anyone or orchestrate hardships to teach us. Using the story of Joseph, who despite betrayal and injustice held fast to faith, we see that knowing our identity as favored children of God helps us stand against lies and victim mentality. While God allows us to experience trials, these challenges are not from Him; rather, He delivers, protects, and guides us through them, sometimes removing obstacles and other times walking with us. As James 1:2 and John 10:10 affirm, we are called to trust God, learn from challenges, and count it all joy, knowing that God is always with us in trials but never the cause of them. 2/8/2026 Vida Church