THE LIFE LESSON OF TRIALS
Tyler Ellis
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS & JOURNALING
1. PERSONAL TRIALS — Entitle a page in your journal, “My Personal Trials.” Make a list of the
most difficult circumstances you’ve experienced (Examples: loss of loved one, loss of job,
natural disaster, physical infirmity, rejection, abuse, injustice, persecution, etc.). Write
out a prayer expressing your feelings to God and your need for healing.
2. DOUBT IS NATURAL — If anyone should have been immune to doubt it would have been
John the Baptist. READ: John 1:29-36; Mark 1:9-11. What unique privileges did John
experience to confirm his faith? READ Matthew 14:1-4; Luke 7:19-20. What happened to
John that led him to second-guess the claims of Jesus? READ: Luke 7:21-22,28. How did
Jesus respond to John’s doubts? How does this story encourage you?
3. YOUR NEXT STEP — Do you feel like you are: 1.) walking toward God; 2.) walking away
from God; or 3.) at a stand-still with God? Of the following suggestions, circle the idea/s
that you think might be a helpful next step. Journal what it looks like to implement a
course of action. (Suggestions: pray for help; examine the basis of your present beliefs; list
your questions and hang-ups; interview someone who can relate; seek out a mentor; get
familiar with available resources; join a Bible study; read the Bible; forgive an offense;
repent of a sin; fast from a certain activity; volunteer in ministry; take a personal retreat
day; invest in what makes the most sense).
4. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL — According to the Christian worldview, God created humanity
because He desired a family to love who would love Him in return. The possibility of love
required the gift of free will, and with the gift of such freedom came the risk of rejection.
If you could eliminate all evil, suffering, and sin in your life by giving up your free will,
would you do it? Explain.
5. IS GOD TO BLAME? — The Bible reveals that what God wills and does is always good. Evil
and suffering were not God’s original intent, but were introduced through the rebellion of
Satan, Adam and Eve. Without this understanding, what misconception might we form
about God? How might these conclusions affect our desire to know God?
6. SPIRITUAL BATTLE — READ: John 10:10; Acts 10:38. What role might Satan play in the evil
and the suffering experienced in our world today? Why do you suppose God doesn’t just
eliminate Satan now?
7. FAIRNESS — READ: Romans 3:10,23; 6:23. In light of humankind’s rejection of God, what
point do you think C.S. Lewis is trying to get across when he states, “The question is not
‘Why do the innocent suffer?’ but rather ‘Why don’t we all suffer more?’” Do you agree
with him? Why or why not? Entitle a page in your journal, “Undeserved Blessings” and make
a list of specific gifts you’ve received from God.
8. JESUS’ SUFFERING — If anyone was innocent before God and did not deserve to suffer it
was Jesus. Yet, in order to provide a way for us (who are guilty) to be saved, he
volunteered to suffer that he might satisfy God’s justice on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21).
READ: 1 Peter 2:21-25; Hebrews 12:2-3; John 16:33. In your journal, respond to each of the
following words as they challenge the perspective you have concerning your own suffering:
love, humility, repentance, thanksgiving, endurance, hope, trust, and joy.
9. THE REASON WE FOLLOW GOD — READ: Job 1:1,6-12. What do you think Satan meant
when he asked Yahweh, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” How do you think God would
respond if Satan were to ask the same about you?
10. THE “PROMISE” OF PROSPERITY — READ: Mark 4:3,5,16-17; Luke 8:13. Different people
possess different concepts of God and decide to follow God based on different motives and
expectations. Make a list of as many different concepts, motives and expectations as you
can think of. Then try to predict how each individual might respond to trials based on those
presuppositions.
11. GOD’S TESTS & DISCIPLINE — READ: James 1:2-3,12; Ps. 66:8-12; Hebrews 12:6-10.
Though God did not intend evil to enter our world, He sometimes uses life’s circumstances
to test us. God cares and notices how we handle success and failure, peace and crisis,
health and illness, temptation, persecution, etc. According to these Scriptures, what
purposes might God’s tests serve in our lives?
12. TRUSTING & THANKSGIVING — READ: Exodus 17:1-6; Hebrews 4:1-2. According to these
Scriptures, what two things must be “mixed” together in order to experience peace in the
midst of trials? READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20. What examples can you think
of concerning what it means to give thanks “for all things” and “in all things”.
13. GOD WORKS FOR GOOD — READ: Acts 16:22-35; Philippians 1:12-14. How did Paul respond
to trials? How did God use Paul’s trials for good? Rewrite Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28 in
your own words.
14. PRAYING FOR FAITH — READ: Romans 5:10; 8:32. If you have trusted Christ for the
greatest thing, which is salvation, are you trusting him in the lesser needs of everyday life?
Write out a prayer addressing your attitude and level of trust in these areas, and ask the
Lord to patiently increase your faith.
15. DEVELOPING CHARACTER — List the three most difficult trials you have experienced in
your past. What did you learn? How have those trials defined who you are? What good has
God brought from those situations? How can you use those experiences to comfort others?
16. PRAYER — READ: Psalm 106:19-23. How does this story restore your hope that prayer can
make a difference? How does it challenge you to know that the outcome of our prayers is
influenced by the following variables: 1.) God's will (1 John 5:14); 2.) The faith of the
person being prayed for (Mark 6:5-6); 3.) The faith of people praying for others (James 1:67); 4.) Persistence (Luke 11:5-9); 5.) The number of people praying (Colossians 4:3-4; 6.)
Human free will (2 Peter 3:9); 7.) Angelic free will (Daniel 10:12-13); 8.) The number &
strength of spirit agents (2 Kings 6:16-17); 9.) The presence of sin (Psalm 66:18)?
17. COMFORTED TO COMFORT — READ: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. God comforts us through people
and comforts people through us. Who has God used to comfort you in your trials? Who do
you know that needs comfort? What steps can you take to comfort them?
18. GOD’S PATIENCE — READ: 2 Peter 3:9. What insight does this verse give concerning one
reason why God currently tolerates evil? What advantages are there in allowing people to
see evil firsthand and then inviting them to reject it in favor of living under God’s
leadership? Do you believe this is the best way to deal with evil? Why or why not?
19. ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE — READ: 2 Timothy 4:17-18; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:18;
Revelation 21:1-7. If you knew for sure that God would rid the world of evil somehow and
restore life to His original intent, how would you feel about having to tolerate evil and
suffering now?
20. REWARD — READ: Luke 2:22-23,35; Revelation 2:10. Just as a loving father rewards his
child for being obedient and faithful in their responsibilities, so too, our Heavenly Father
loves us and extends the promise of eternal rewards. Among the many things that God will
reward us for is the endurance of suffering. Does this promise surprise you, motivate you or
humble you? Explain.
TRIALS-RELATED PROJECTS
INTERVIEWS
(Suggestions: lessons, regrets, struggles, advice, positive outcomes, etc.)
[ ] Someone who has overcome a great trial
[ ] Someone who is presently going through a trial
[ ] Someone who has been persecuted for their faith
LETTERS
[ ] Write to someone who comforted you in the past
[ ] Write to someone who needs comfort
[ ] Write to someone experiencing persecution for their faith
MISCELLANEOUS
[ ] Research and volunteer to assist an individual or organization that can benefit from
your services (those experiencing loss, illnesses, disabilities, domestic violence, etc.).
[ ] Invite struggling people to campus ministry activities
(sports, meals, outings, trips, Small Group, etc.)
REFLECTION
[ ] Watch & discuss a related movie
(The Passion of The Christ, Facing The Giants, Luther, Chariots of Fire, Rudy, It’s A Wonderful
Life, The Pianist, A Woman Who Willed A Miracle, Bruce Almighty, Patch Adams)
[ ] Start a prayer list or group (asking people in need for requests)
[ ] Expression (write a song, poem, blog, or create collage relating to trials)
[ ] Personal retreat day (schedule a Sabbath day in a quiet place – bringing your Bible,
journal, music, water bottle, etc.)
[ ] Scripture memorization (stick post-it notes of related passages in prominent places)
[ ] Prayer walking with a friend (walking through town, campus, hiking, stargazing, etc.)
RECOMMENDED READING
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Is God To Blame? Gregory Boyd
Satan And The Problem of Evil, Gregory Boyd
Letters From A Skeptic, Gregory Boyd
What’s So Great About Christianity, Dinesh D’Souza
If I Perish, Esther Kim
Broken Dreams, Larry Crab
Fox’s Book of Martyrs
Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, by John Wooden and Jay Carty
Man’s Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl
Facing Your Giants, Max Lucado
Sundays With Scottie, Milton Jones
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Left To Tell, Imacule Illibagiza
The Shack, William P. Young
Safely Home, Randy Alcorn
How Could God Allow Suffering And Evil? Garry Poole
RECOMMENDED MUSIC
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If You Want Me To, Ginny Owens
There Will Be A Day, Jeremy Camp
Come For Me, Charlie Hall
I Will Rise, Chris Tomlin
I Believe In Love, BarlowGirl
My Hope, David Crowder*Band
CONTRIBUTORS
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Milton Jones
Glynda Crownover
Caleb Stroud
Jennifer Drescher
Adam Wilson
Tyler Ellis