Now What? (2) – Even When It Hurts

Welcome to CROLCC, we are so glad you are here worshiping with us. We have started this series called Now What? as an extension to our last series Brand New. We asked the question in our Brand New series What does love require of me? And last week we asked, What if love requires more of me than I have? In another word, what if I don’t have what it takes to do what love requires of me? What if love require a better me? It’s really not in us to do what love requires of us, but the secret lies in remaining with Jesus. Therefore last week we landed on “constant consideration of and intentional investment in a relationship with Jesus,” and I hope you will continue to do that.

Today we are going to take it a bit further, how do we do what love requires when life hurts? When life isn’t going as we expected, we may feel discouraged, defeated, or even devastated. During those seasons, we spend a lot of energy trying to get rid of or avoid whatever is causing our pain. We love comfort and happiness, so we pray for God to intervene on our behalf. We ask him to remove the things that make our lives less than perfect. But what if God is up to something in the midst of our suffering—something more profound than comfort and happiness?

Moving Forward

When your circumstances leave you feeling discouraged, defeated, or devastated, you want God to remove the source of your pain. But what if that’s not in your best interest? Maybe the greatest thing he can do for you is not remove your pain but use it. Maybe there is a level of your life you can only reach if you allow him to use it.

Changing Your Mind

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:1–2

Discussion Questions

1. What are some things you find frustrating currently? How do you tend to respond to frustration?

2. Have you ever seen someone demonstrate great patience in the midst of a difficult circumstance? If so, what stood out about what you witnessed?

3. Talk about a time when you prayed for God to remove difficulty or pain from your life, and he didn’t do so right away (or at all). What happened? How did the experience change your faith?

4. Read John 15:1–2. Do you find those verses comforting or difficult? In what ways do they challenge your views about God’s role in your life?

5. What is discouraging, defeating, or devastating you right now? What is one thing you can do this week to begin to trust God with the outcome of whatever you’re facing? What can this group do to support you?