When our faith is tested, we are invited to draw closer to the God who draws near to us in our trials. In this study, we'll explore more of the ways God works good in our lives through trials.

DISCUSSION / REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

What "things of the world" do you find most tempting, and have to resist the most?

When we draw close to Christ, we pull away from the world and the things of this world, and vice versa. How have you seen this truth evidenced in your own life and walk with Jesus?

In moments of hardship, how can we practically rely on God's strength and provision rather than our own coping mechanisms? How are you doing at living this out in your own life?

C.S. Lewis wrote about how our unfulfilled earthly desires point us toward a heavenly home. Do you have any unfulfilled desires that you believe will be fulfilled in Heaven? Are you at peace waiting for that fulfillment or do you struggle with patience?

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One of the reasons God sends us trials is to reveal the genuineness (or lack thereof) of our faith. We'll talk about that in this study, as well as a profound perspective on trials that unfold in the aftermath of our failures.

DISCUSSION / REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

How can we cultivate joy in the midst of our trials as James 1:2-3 encourages us to do? Share personal experiences where you've found joy in a challenging situation.

Genuine faith is more than external actions; it's about lordship and obedience. How does Matthew 7:21-23 challenge our understanding of what it means to truly follow Christ?

Reflect on the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13 and reflect on Psalm 139:23-24. How can we ensure that our hearts are the good soil?

Share a trial where you were made more like Jesus by walking through the aftermath of your failure.

Read Romans 8:16. What does it mean?

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God sends trials to get our attention and sometimes He sends trials to humble us. Learn why that's a good thing, and how the Lord uses trials to get us to the place where He can bless us.

DISCUSSION / REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

Discuss how the idea of delayed gratification, as seen in the lives of Biblical figures such as Moses, Daniel, and David, challenges the instant gratification prevalent in our culture today. Can you relate this to Jesus' teachings in Matthew 16:24-27 about taking up our cross?

Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. What's the difference between a believer who stumbles in a trial but is still saved and a non-believer whose lack of sincere faith is revealed by failing a trial?

Review Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' described in 2 Corinthians 12:6-10. How can trials foster humility and dependence on God? Share a trial that humbled you.

How can we be more attentive to God's voice during peaceful times, as C.S. Lewis suggests, to avoid needing the 'megaphone' of pain?

How can we proactively practice the humility described in 1 Peter 5:5-6, which says, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble"?

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