Week 2 / 4
When Suffering Lingers
Week 2 delves into navigating prolonged suffering with faithfulness.
We’ll start by reflecting on last week’s lessons and encouraging each other to praise God amidst trials. Reading Job 3, we’ll explore the depths of enduring suffering through Job’s profound despair.
Our practice focuses on processing emotions amid adversity. We’ll bring our feelings to God, study Psalm 22 to understand its lament structure, and write our own laments, expressing grief and trust in God. Together, we’ll support each other in acknowledging emotions, sharing sorrows, and finding hope in God’s presence.
Choose a version
Suffering
When suffering lingers
Come together as a group and discuss last week’s practice.
Group Questions:
- What did you learn or experience during last week’s practice?
- How would you encourage someone else to praise the Lord during a time of suffering?
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
Read together Job 3
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Job first experienced the loss of all his possessions and his children, followed by a second wave of suffering focused on his physical health. The lingering and intensifying suffering he endured was compounded by the physical pain he now endures, leaving him with no peace or rest.
Focus
There's a heaviness that descends upon us when we find ourselves stuck in a period of suffering. As I write this, I feel the urge to skip ahead to the end of the story, to bypass this moment. Yet, the waiting is perhaps the most significant aspect of the process, albeit the most challenging.
Waiting is also the most hazardous part. People struggle with waiting. We're inclined to exhaust every possible means to fix the situation as swiftly as possible. It's during this phase that bitterness can seep in, where hope can wane, and where individuals truly discover the foundation upon which their lives are built. Therefore, this week, we will sit with the suffering.
Group Questions
- When have you experienced a time when suffering lingered much longer than you expected?
- What did you do during that time?
- Talk over the practice for the week.
The Practice
Day One
Today, we want to acknowledge the emotions that we have been feeling during our season of suffering. Emotions are often the first things we try to push aside or bury when we are not doing well. They can feel overwhelming. However, God gave us emotions, and it is beneficial for us to learn to identify them and bring them before God, who can help us process them in a healthy way. We are providing an emotions list for you because it can be challenging to name emotions, especially when it's something we don't often practice.
Feelings
Happy
Adored, Alive, Appreciated, Cheerful, Ecstatic, Excited, Grateful, Glad, Hopeful, Jolly, Jovial, Joyful, Loved, Merry, Optimistic, Pleased, Satisfied, Tender, Terrific, Thankful, Uplifted, Warm
Mad
Aggravated, Accused, Angry, Bitter, Cross, Defensive, Frustrated, Furious, Hostile, Impatient, Infuriated, Insulted, Jaded, Offended, Ornery, Outraged, Pestered, Rebellious, Resistant, Revengeful, Scorned, Spiteful, Testy, Used, Violated
Sad
Alone, Blue, Burdened, Depressed, Devastated, Disappointed, Discouraged, Grief-stricken, Gloomy, Hopeless, Let down, Lonely, Heartbroken, Melancholy, Miserable, Neglected, Pessimistic, Remorseful, Resentful, Solemn, Threatened
Scared
Afraid, Alarmed, Anxious, Bashful, Cautious, Fearful, Frightened, Horrified, Lost, Haunted, Helpless, Hesitant, Insecure, Nervous, Petrified, Puzzled, Reassured, Reserved, Sheepish, Tearful, Uncomfortable, Useless
Surprised
Astonished, Curious, Delighted, Enchanted, Exhilarated, Incredulous, Inquisitive, Impressed, Mystified, Passionate, Playful, Replenished, Splendid, Shocked, Stunned
Disgust
Embarrassed, Exposed, Guilty, Ignored, Inadequate, Incompetent, Inhibited, Inept, Inferior, Insignificant, Sick, Shame, Squashed, Stupid, Ugly, Unaccepted
Your Feelings
What are you feeling? Where do you feel it? Why are you feeling it? What do you need? I encourage you to truly contemplate your needs for this day as you grapple with these emotions. While our instinct may be to seek a resolution to the situation, I urge you to focus on the present. What do you need right now, in this moment?
Take these concerns to God in prayer.
Day Two
Have you ever written a lament? Have you poured out the depth of your sorrow before God? Today, let's read Psalm 22. Laments typically exhibit four common characteristics: turning to the Lord, expressing complaints to the Lord, making bold requests, and choosing to trust.
As you read through the Psalm, take a moment to notice which characteristics David brings out in his lament. Is he turning to the Lord? How does he articulate his complaints? What does he ask for? How does he choose to trust?
Day Three
Today, let's take time to write our own lament to God. This is a heartfelt expression of grief or sorrow. Sometimes, as Christians, we may feel hesitant to share our negative emotions with God. However, when we look at the Scriptures, we see examples like Job, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus, who openly expressed their deepest emotions to God. This is a safe place to voice our disappointments, sadness, frustration, and fear to God. But it doesn't end there; in God, we also find our hope, and in Him, we place our trust. Here are some questions to guide you as you write your personal lament:
- How are you approaching the Lord?
- What has transpired? What are your complaints?
- What bold requests do you want to make to God?
- How are you choosing to trust God in this moment?
Group Questions
- How well and how often do you take time to identify your emotions?
- Have you ever written a lament before?
- What challenges are you facing this week?
- Finish with a time of prayer together.
© Copyright 2024 - Copyright notice
All photographs and graphics as well as the design of this online-document are protected by copyright. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright lies with generations church Leipzig e.V. Please ask Tyler Charvat (Legal Notice generationschurch.de) if you would like to use the mentioned contents of this document.
Texts of this document are licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. This means you may distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, for noncommercial purposes only and you are required to give credit to the creator.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Suffering
When suffering lingers
Questions:
- What did you learn or experience during last week’s practice?
- How would you encourage someone else to praise the Lord during a time of suffering?
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
Read Job 3
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Job first experienced the loss of all his possessions and his children, followed by a second wave of suffering focused on his physical health. The lingering and intensifying suffering he endured was compounded by the physical pain he now endures, leaving him with no peace or rest.
Focus
There's a heaviness that descends upon us when we find ourselves stuck in a period of suffering. As I write this, I feel the urge to skip ahead to the end of the story, to bypass this moment. Yet, the waiting is perhaps the most significant aspect of the process, albeit the most challenging.
Waiting is also the most hazardous part. People struggle with waiting. We're inclined to exhaust every possible means to fix the situation as swiftly as possible. It's during this phase that bitterness can seep in, where hope can wane, and where individuals truly discover the foundation upon which their lives are built. Therefore, this week, we will sit with the suffering.
Questions
- When have you experienced a time when suffering lingered much longer than you expected?
- What did you do during that time?
The Practice
Day One
Today, we want to acknowledge the emotions that we have been feeling during our season of suffering. Emotions are often the first things we try to push aside or bury when we are not doing well. They can feel overwhelming. However, God gave us emotions, and it is beneficial for us to learn to identify them and bring them before God, who can help us process them in a healthy way. We are providing an emotions list for you because it can be challenging to name emotions, especially when it's something we don't often practice.
Feelings
Happy
Adored, Alive, Appreciated, Cheerful, Ecstatic, Excited, Grateful, Glad, Hopeful, Jolly, Jovial, Joyful, Loved, Merry, Optimistic, Pleased, Satisfied, Tender, Terrific, Thankful, Uplifted, Warm
Mad
Aggravated, Accused, Angry, Bitter, Cross, Defensive, Frustrated, Furious, Hostile, Impatient, Infuriated, Insulted, Jaded, Offended, Ornery, Outraged, Pestered, Rebellious, Resistant, Revengeful, Scorned, Spiteful, Testy, Used, Violated
Sad
Alone, Blue, Burdened, Depressed, Devastated, Disappointed, Discouraged, Grief-stricken, Gloomy, Hopeless, Let down, Lonely, Heartbroken, Melancholy, Miserable, Neglected, Pessimistic, Remorseful, Resentful, Solemn, Threatened
Scared
Afraid, Alarmed, Anxious, Bashful, Cautious, Fearful, Frightened, Horrified, Lost, Haunted, Helpless, Hesitant, Insecure, Nervous, Petrified, Puzzled, Reassured, Reserved, Sheepish, Tearful, Uncomfortable, Useless
Surprised
Astonished, Curious, Delighted, Enchanted, Exhilarated, Incredulous, Inquisitive, Impressed, Mystified, Passionate, Playful, Replenished, Splendid, Shocked, Stunned
Disgust
Embarrassed, Exposed, Guilty, Ignored, Inadequate, Incompetent, Inhibited, Inept, Inferior, Insignificant, Sick, Shame, Squashed, Stupid, Ugly, Unaccepted
Your Feelings
What are you feeling? Where do you feel it? Why are you feeling it? What do you need? I encourage you to truly contemplate your needs for this day as you grapple with these emotions. While our instinct may be to seek a resolution to the situation, I urge you to focus on the present. What do you need right now, in this moment?
Take these concerns to God in prayer.
Day Two
Have you ever written a lament? Have you poured out the depth of your sorrow before God? Today, let's read Psalm 22. Laments typically exhibit four common characteristics: turning to the Lord, expressing complaints to the Lord, making bold requests, and choosing to trust.
As you read through the Psalm, take a moment to notice which characteristics David brings out in his lament. Is he turning to the Lord? How does he articulate his complaints? What does he ask for? How does he choose to trust?
Day Three
Today, let's take time to write our own lament to God. This is a heartfelt expression of grief or sorrow. Sometimes, as Christians, we may feel hesitant to share our negative emotions with God. However, when we look at the Scriptures, we see examples like Job, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus, who openly expressed their deepest emotions to God. This is a safe place to voice our disappointments, sadness, frustration, and fear to God. But it doesn't end there; in God, we also find our hope, and in Him, we place our trust. Here are some questions to guide you as you write your personal lament:
- How are you approaching the Lord?
- What has transpired? What are your complaints?
- What bold requests do you want to make to God?
- How are you choosing to trust God in this moment?
© Copyright 2024 - Copyright notice
All photographs and graphics as well as the design of this online-document are protected by copyright. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright lies with generations church Leipzig e.V. Please ask Tyler Charvat (Legal Notice generationschurch.de) if you would like to use the mentioned contents of this document.
Texts of this document are licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. This means you may distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, for noncommercial purposes only and you are required to give credit to the creator.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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