If God Loves Me, Then Why Does He Let My Life Hurt? Group Guide

December 2023

  • Reflect on the concept of Paul's "thorn in the flesh." In your own life, can you identify a struggle or ongoing difficulty that feels like a thorn? How does it impact your daily life and relationship with God?
  • Have you ever prayed for God to remove a challenge or struggle from your life, similar to how Paul pleaded for his thorn to be taken away? Share your experience and discuss how God responded to those prayers.
  • Jeff shares several categories of thorns, such as physical pain, unrelenting illness, relational pain, and sin/temptation. Can you relate to any of these categories in your own life or the lives of those around you? How might these challenges impact faith?
  • Jeff describes parenting as both great and demanding. Share a personal experience, whether as a parent or supporting someone in raising children, where you faced a challenging situation. How did you navigate through it, and what emotions did you feel?
  • In the sermon, Jeff talks about the challenge of understanding God's love when life is difficult. Have you ever experienced a moment when you questioned God's love due to a tough situation? How did you eventually come to understand or reconcile God's love in that context?
  • Jeff suggests embracing our struggles as gifts, acknowledging that weakness and vulnerability are the gateways to experiencing God's power. Share a personal story of how a challenging situation eventually led to spiritual growth or a deeper connection with God.