Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble.” It’s certainly not the kind of promise from Jesus we like to think about. The good news is we can get through crises with the help of God and others! Pastor Jason looks at how God can help us face crises, navigate the grief process, and find courage with the help of others we trust.

Group Discussion Guide

Memory Verse

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Opening

• Begin your time with prayer.
• Go around and share celebrations and challenges from the week. What is one thing you are celebrating? What is one thing that has been challenging this week?
• Share our Big Idea for today with the group: We can let God and other people help us through crisis.

Watch the Video

Connect

Discuss the following questions together:

• What have you observed about how people respond to crises or difficult situations?
• Do you have an example of when someone helped you or someone you know through a crisis in a helpful way?
• What is one way you experienced God during a time of crisis or difficulty?

Unpack

Go around your group and have someone read each of the following verses. Don’t comment specifically on each one, but rather use the questions below to guide your responses as you consider all of the verses.

READ

• Psalm 23:4
• Psalm 55:16-17
• Psalm 91:4, 14-15
• Matthew 11:28-30
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

DISCUSS

• What can you learn about God from these verses?
• What do you find the most challenging about these verses?
• What encouragement do you receive from these verses?

Apply

Based on the verses we just read, there are a few things that we can do in response. Take a moment to reflect on these responses and then discuss each one together as a group.

Go to the God of All Comfort

• We learn throughout the Bible that God wants to walk alongside us in every season of life and give us His comfort through it all. What’s one practical way you can go to God in your difficult seasons of life and allow Him to comfort you?
• Many metaphors in the Bible describing God and His relationship with us revolve around a parent-child relationship. Like a truly good Father, He desires the very best for us and loves us more than we can fully comprehend.
• What is one thing you can imagine this heavenly-loving Father wanting to say to you when you go through times of hardship?
• What are some ways we can respond to God when He answers our prayers or doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we would want?

Lean Into Community

• God created us to live in relationships and community. Because of this, when we’re experiencing difficult seasons, He intends that we support and encourage one another with the loving heart of Jesus. What are some ways that you could bravely invite others into your life’s challenges?

Seek Peace in God’s Word

• A great way to find peace in any season of life is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Let’s try it together! Bring to your mind a difficulty you’re currently going through personally or helping someone else through. Then, spend a couple of minutes reading Psalm 23 quietly to yourself. Afterward, have one person read it out loud for the group. How are you feeling after doing that exercise? Do you notice anything happening in your soul?

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    FOREVER.

Closing

• Share with each other which application sticks out most in your life as you think about your current decisions.
• Use this closing time to share prayer requests with each other and then close in a time of prayer.

Daily Bible Reading

Use the S.O.A.K. method to reflect on the verses below.

Scripture: Read the verses several times out loud.
Observation: As you read the scripture, what do you observe?
Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do or feel based on what you have read?
Kneel: This is a chance to pray about what you have read and learned.

• Day 1: Psalm 91
• Day 2: Psalm 121
• Day 3: Nehemiah 9:19
• Day 4: Isaiah 49:14-16
• Day 5: James 5:10-11
• Day 6: Matthew 6:7-15