Tough Questions Week 1 : Why Did God Let It Happen?
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the message:
Day 1: God's Love in the Midst of Suffering Reading: Psalm 73:1-28 Devotional: Asaph's journey from doubt to faith mirrors our own struggles when facing adversity. Like him, we often question God's goodness when we see injustice or experience personal pain. Yet, as we enter God's presence and gain His perspective, our understanding deepens. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God due to suffering. How did God reveal His love to you in that season? Remember, God's love isn't absence of pain, but His presence in our pain. Today, seek to enter God's sanctuary through prayer and meditation, allowing His love to renew your perspective.
Day 2: The Freedom to Choose Love Reading: Joshua 24:14-15, John 3:16-21 Devotional: God's gift of free will is both beautiful and challenging. It allows us to genuinely love Him and others, but also opens the door to sin and suffering. Consider how your choices impact those around you. How can you use your freedom today to choose love, even in difficult circumstances? Reflect on God's ultimate expression of love in John 3:16. He chose to send His Son, knowing the suffering it would entail, because of His great love for us. How does this sacrificial love inspire you to make loving choices, even when it's costly?
Day 3: Finding Meaning in Suffering Reading: Romans 8:18-39 Devotional: Paul reminds us that our present sufferings pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us. This doesn't diminish our pain, but offers hope and perspective. Reflect on a current struggle in your life. How might God be working through this difficulty to shape you or to reach others? Remember that nothing can separate us from God's love. In what ways can you lean into His love today, even in the midst of challenges? Consider how you might share the comfort you've received from God with someone else who is hurting.
Day 4: The Only Truly Good One Reading: Mark 15:33-39, 2 Corinthians 5:21 Devotional: Jesus, the only truly good person, willingly suffered for our sake. His cry on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" echoes our own cries in times of despair. Yet, it was through this ultimate act of love that our salvation was secured. Spend time today meditating on Christ's sacrifice. How does His willingness to suffer on your behalf impact your view of your own struggles? In what ways can you "take up your cross" today, following Jesus' example of sacrificial love?
Day 5: Hope for a Better Future Reading: Revelation 21:1-7, Romans 8:18-25 Devotional: The promise of a new heaven and new earth, where there will be no more tears, death, or pain, offers hope in our present difficulties. This future reality doesn't negate our current pain, but it does provide a framework for endurance and joy. Reflect on what it means to live with eternal perspective. How might your approach to current challenges change if you viewed them through the lens of eternity? Consider one way you can bring a taste of God's future kingdom into someone's life today through an act of kindness, forgiveness, or hope-filled encouragement.