Review any assignments or commitments made during your previous meeting.
“… all the foundations of society are being shaken to the core.” Psalm 82:5 (LB)
Sometimes our world feels like it’s being turned upside down and we may encounter idolatry, immorality, or injustice. Scripture shows us that these kinds of situations happened to God’s people many times throughout history. Nevertheless, in a rapidly changing world God wants us to be unshakable – not just surviving, but thriving. Here we’ll discuss how we shouldn’t be surprised by adversity, but instead look at how God could use it for good to inspect us, correct us, direct us, protect us, or perfect us. Finally, we need to learn to trust God for the situations we don’t understand.
Open your group with a prayer. This is only a guide – select the points you want to discuss.
“The Lord searches our hearts and examines our deepest motives.” Jeremiah 17:10 (LB)
1. God may shake things up in our lives to inspect us and reveal our motives. Why are the motivations for our actions more important than what we actually do with our lives?
2. The ways in which we handle life’s difficulties can reveal important aspects of our character. Give some examples of this.
“Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30 (TEV)
3. God sometimes shakes things up in our lives to direct us. What are some painful experiences that might cause people to change their lifestyles, ways of thinking, or behavior?
“A person may plan his own journey, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (GW)
4. God often shakes things up to change our direction. Share a time when something unexpected changed your plans and the situation turned out better than you anticipated.
“How he wanted to lure you away from danger into a wide and pleasant valley and to prosper you there.” Job 36:16 (TLB)
5. God sometimes shakes things up in our lives to protect us. What roadblocks may prevent us from responding to God’s protection when disappointments and regrets arise in our lives?
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
6. Share an undesirable situation such as unemployment, ending a relationship, or a health concern that led you to something better.