Work in Progress: From the Pit to the Palace
Goal: Help dads recognize that detours, delays, and pain don’t mean God has abandoned them, but that He’s shaping their character and positioning them for His purpose. We are a work in progress!
YouTube Video of the Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/live/7OdzTle5nX0?si=IlnbAVwEyvZwqu6k
Opening Thought – We are all works in progress
We’re all works in progress. Like Joseph, we go through seasons of confusion, delay, and disappointment. But what if the pit you’re in is the pathway to the palace God is preparing?
“The presence of pain does not mean the absence of God.”
Scripture Foundation
Genesis 45:4–8 (NIV): “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’ … So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV): “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
Psalm 34:18 (NIV): “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Discussion Questions with Scripture & Links
| # | Question | Scripture Reference(s) | Related BeTheDads Post |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Where in your life do you feel “stuck in the pit” or “delayed” right now? | ||
| • Psalm 37:7 — “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” • Isaiah 40:31 — “…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…” | “Unwavering Courage to Wait: Embrace Divine Timing” — https://bethedads.com/2024/12/unwavering-courage-to-wait-embrace-divine-timing-for-ultimate-serenity/ | ||
| 2 | How can remembering that “God is with you in the pain” change how you respond to your challenges as a dad and husband? | ||
| • Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” • Romans 8:28 — “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” | “The Future is Now! So, we can’t wait to be the dads…” — https://bethedads.com/2025/03/the-future-is-now-so-we-cant-wait-to-be-the-dads/ | ||
| 3 | What area of your life is God asking you to wait — and trust — instead of trying to fix it your own way? | ||
| • Isaiah 40:31 (above) • Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” | “Developing the Fruit of the Spirit in Dads” — https://bethedads.com/2025/08/developing-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-in-dads/ | ||
| 4 | Who might you need to forgive (or ask forgiveness from) to move forward? | ||
| • Matthew 6:14-15 — “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” Bible Study Tools+1 • Colossians 3:13 — “Bear with each other and forgive one another…” (listed in forgiveness topic) OpenBible | “How to Get Back on Track: It’s Not Too Late to Start Over” — https://bethedads.com/2024/08/how-to-get-back-on-track-its-not-too-late-to-start-over/ | ||
| 5 | How can you model for your kids what it looks like to trust God in detours? | ||
| • Romans 8:28 (above) • Joshua 24:15 — “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (modeling leadership) | “Who God created you to be: Take Time to grab a hold of it!” — https://bethedads.com/2025/02/take-time-to-grab-a-hold-of-who-god-created-you-to-be/ | ||
Memory Verse
Romans 8:28 (NIV): “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him.”
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for being with us in every detour and delay. Help us to trust You in the process — to love our wives faithfully, to lead our kids with hope, and to forgive those who have hurt us. Make us more like Joseph — steadfast, faithful, and forgiving — as You shape us into the dads You’ve called us to be. Amen.
