FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION These aspects of the study can be used in between group sessions on your own as part of your devotional and confessional life. Do Something During the week ahead, turn your learning into doing. 1. Take some time to list a few of the “knee-jerk” responses you typically have when you are faced with suffering of any kind. Write down how you think, feel, react, and talk when unexpected trials come into your life. 2. Now write down a list of characteristics about God that you know are true. Find specific Scriptures that describe God’s nature. 3. After you’ve taken the time to list out your responses to suffering and God’s characteristics that you see in Scripture, how can you allow the Word of God to influence the ways you typically respond when faced with suffering? Remind yourself as you go down the list of your responses that God is all the things you read about in the Bible, and not the negative ways you have perhaps characterized him as in your thoughts. 4. Confide in a trusted, godly friend and vulnerably share with them about how you think about God when you face suffering. Ask that person to pray for you and remind you of the truth when you’re tempted to believe lies in the midst of difficult situations. Search Me, O God For introspection during the coming week. Holy Spirit, will you help me to truly live as if you are carrying my groanings to the Father when I go through suffering? Would you mold and shape me more and more into the image of Christ because of my suffering? I admit that I’m tempted to distrust the Lord when I am in pain or uncomfortable, so I need you to readjust my lenses to clearly see the nature and character of God as it’s laid out in Scripture. My heart is so often preoccupied with a desire to be trouble-free and comfortable, but I know that you love me too much to simply give me a comfortable life… you want to give me yourself, so I ask that you would help me to pursue that instead of what my sinful heart desires. For More from Paul Tripp, Read: Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense
Session 3
GLOBAL GOSPEL LEADERS IN SPANISH
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