Week of April 6-11
Theme: Difficult things can be a gift
Bible Verse(s): James 1.2-4
Consider it a gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.
So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.
Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Discussion
What is one of the hardest things you have experienced in life?
What do hard things (tests and challenges) show about our faith?
What do you think God wants to happen inside us when we are going through hard things on the outside?
Read this quote from Elizabeth Kübler Ross and talk about what you think it means:
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
Family Project
Pray together. Instead of asking God to take hard things away from your life, ask God to do something good and beautiful on the inside… to help you become strong and courageous and generous and unafraid and full of faith.
