---

1. Have someone in your group give a brief recap of Sunday’s message, highlighting the primary Scripture points and the main idea of the message.
2. How did this message strengthen and/or correct your previous ideas about lamenting as a Christian? Was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
3. What confidence does David express to God in Psalm 22? (See verses 3-5 and 9-11)
4. Pastor Jerry mentioned that suffering/hardship is a necessary part of the Christian walk. What about the sermon encourages you as you face the reality that hardship is a necessary part of the Christian walk?
5. When you experience suffering outside your control, are you more tempted to deny it or become angry? What about God can help you have a hopeful confidence in Him as you go through suffering?
6. Think back to a time you experienced suffering, worry, fear, angst, despair, or anxiety. What did you learn about God because of this experience?
7. If you are going through suffering right now and willing to share, what complaint do you have with God? And what hopeful confidence do you have in God that can help you through this season?
8. As God comforts us through tough times, he may use us to comfort others who are facing similar circumstances. Do you know someone going through a hardship that you have gone through yourself? If so, how may God be asking you to comfort this person?
9. What action step do you need to take in response to this week’s message? How can your group hold you accountable to this step?

 

Action Step

Choose at least one of the following action steps to complete this week: 

1. If you are experiencing hardship, share your complaint with God and the hopeful confidence you have in Him.
2. As you look at the tragedies in the world, remind yourself of who God is, what He says about it, and your call to be a light in the darkness.
3. Pray that God would use you to comfort others who are experiencing the hardships that He has brought you through.

---

---