From the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3, it corrupted everything. With it came death, destruction, and decay. No part of God’s creation was untouched by sin and its devastating impacts. As long as we live on this earth, we will face physical pain, emotional pain, heartache, deep loss, sickness, and more. Suffering is a part of this life here on earth, as much as we would like to avoid it. For followers of Christ, however, we are not without hope. God is at work amidst our suffering, and one day, He will redeem and restore everything that sin destroyed.
Who is someone who inspired you as they walked through suffering and why?
1. Read Romans 8:17b-25. What evidence do you see in our world today that “creation has been groaning” and that “believers also groan” as we wait for the day when God will make everything right and restore what was destroyed by sin?
Romans 8:17b-25
But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
2. What is Paul’s perspective on suffering based on this passage of Scripture, and why?
3. Read Romans 8:26-30. What reasons does Paul give us to hold on to hope during our difficulties in this passage of Scripture?
Romans 8:26-30
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
4. Romans 8:28 is a well-known, often-quoted verse from Scripture. How does understanding the context leading up to this verse impact your understanding of this verse?
1. How have you seen God “cause everything to work together for…good” during your own suffering and difficulties?
2. Who do you know who is walking through a difficult time? How can you walk with them well through the difficulty they are facing?
3. What does it look like today to hold on to hope during our times of suffering?
Break up into groups of two or three. In your groups, share a struggle or difficulty you are walking through right now. Then, pray together. Pray for God to work in the midst of the suffering you are walking through. Small group leaders, after about 10 minutes, wrap up this time by praying for the entire group, for the trials your group members are facing, and for God to bring peace and hope amidst their suffering.
As we walk through trials, we are all searching for hope amid our heartaches and heartbreaks. There is no greater source of hope for us than God and His word. For the next few minutes, you and your group will turn to Scripture to see three promises from God that we can claim when we walk through suffering: God grows us during difficult times, suffering is temporary, and Christ has overcome the world.
Scripture teaches us that God wastes nothing, not even our suffering. When we walk through difficulties, God works in our lives and grows us so that we walk through our suffering stronger, more secure, and confident in our faith. Only God could take the difficulties and hardships that we face and use them to help us become more like Him.
1. Read James 1:2-4.
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
2. What is surprising about James’ teaching in this passage of Scripture?
3. Why is spiritual growth so important?
4. How have you found the truth from this passage of Scripture to be true in your own life?
5. How might God be using the trial you are currently walking through to help you grow?
While our trials may feel like they will never end, Scripture teaches that they are temporary. They will not last forever. This does not discount our pain during the difficulties that we face, but it does bring us hope that things will not always be this way. Unlike our temporary trials, our future hope of an eternity with Christ will last forever.
1. Read 2nd Corinthians 4:16-18.
2nd Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2. Compare our present troubles and the things of eternity in this passage of Scripture.
3. Why should we focus on the “things that cannot be seen” instead of our present difficulties, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How should we respond to this truth that suffering is temporary, according to this passage of Scripture?
Perhaps the most hopeful promise to claim as we walk through trials is that the enemy, death, and sin do not have the final say. Christ has the final say. Even more, He has overcome the world, and one day, He will defeat the enemy, sin, and death once and for all.
1. Read John 16:33. What does the phrase “I have overcome” in this verse teach us about why we can have hope amidst the trials and sorrows we face in this world?
John 16:33.
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.”
2. Read Revelation 21:1-5. What stands out to you about the new heaven and new earth John describes in this passage of Scripture?
Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
3. How does the truth from these passages of Scripture impact how you will view and respond to your present suffering?
Take a few moments to reflect on the truths from this passage of Scripture.
1. Which of the truths from Scripture that you studied today brings you the most comfort as you think about the trial or difficulty you are walking through?
2. In 2nd Corinthians 2:18, Paul reminds us during our suffering to “fix our gaze” on the things that are eternal that will last forever. What is one way you can fix your gaze on God and the things of eternity this week?
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