Don’t Waste Your Life, Part 6: Your Pain

We loved seeing everyone this weekend! Feel free to message us during the week if you have any questions. If you missed this week’s message, or want to hear it again, be sure to check out our SERMONS Page. Messages are generally posted each week by Tuesday afternoon.

Every week, it’s our goal to provide you with some questions to process the message deeper, either personally, or with a small group. Here are some questions for you to consider from this week’s message, “Your Pain”, part 6 of the DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE series with Pastor Shawn M. Shoup.

KEY SCRIPTURES

• John 16: 33
• Ephesians 4: 1
• Hebrews 6:19
• Romans 8: 28-29
• Exodus 14: 14
• Jeremiah 31: 21-22

TALK IT OUT

Discuss these questions with someone—maybe a family member, friend, or member of your Connect Group. Use a communication method that works best for your situation. 

Start talking.

Find a conversation starter for your group.  

• What does pain/suffering/hope look like? Also, define pain/suffering/hope.
• Is there anyone who is exempt from pain?
• What does pain look like in your life? Please include both past and present.
• Is there someone you know who appears to be handling their pain well?

Start thinking.

Ask a question to get your group thinking. 

• Is a pain free life possible?
• Can disappointment be considered pain? Why or why not?
• Does everyone view pain the same? Why or why not?
• Where does God fit in your pain. Or does He?
• Is there hope during the rough times? Where do you find it?

Start sharing.

Choose a question to create openness. 

• Who controls life: you, God, or the pain?
• When life is hard, where do you find peace?
• If normal has changed, what does it look like?
• Where is God when there is not an instant fix?
• Define your greatest battle, or current battle, from your view.
• What would the same battle look like from God’s perspective?
• What do you desire the most: the things and gifts of God, or God Himself?
• Are you holding on to God, or is He holding on to you?

Start praying.

Be bold and pray with power. 

Father,

Thank You for not leaving me alone in my pain and suffering. Thank you for the way out, even if it is just to praise You for who You are. Help me to see my situation as an opportunity to see Your love in action, and then, to pass that on to others. Reveal to me Your hand at work, especially when and where I am blind to it. Thank You that You were aware of my pain before time began, and made provisions for it. Father, give me hope when is see it the least. Help me to see Your hand at work in all my painful situations — both in the now, and when I look back on all my situations.

Amen and amen.

Start doing.

Commit to a step and live it out this week. 

ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW NOT TO WASTE YOUR PAIN:

1. When retelling your story, how much of the pain do you share?
2. Ask God for His view of your trauma.
3. How do you see loss? is it an ending or a new beginning? Let it become a new beginning for you.
4. Let yourself be known by God during painful times.
5. Does shame and guilt hold you bound? Find true freedom by learning to walk away from them, permanently.
6. Step into a community that fosters healing at your pace.

• Pick one or two of those options and take steps to walk them out this week.

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