Lamentations 3: ¹⁸I tell myself, "I am finished! I can't count on the Lord to do anything for me." ¹⁹Just thinking of my troubles and my lonely wandering makes me miserable. ²⁰That's all I ever think about, and I am depressed." ²¹Then I remember something that fills me with hope. ²²The Lord's kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. ²³The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. ²⁴Deep in my heart I say, "The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!"
    ²⁵The Lord is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys him! ²⁶It is good to wait patiently for the Lord to save us. ²⁷When we are young, it is good to struggle hard ²⁸and to sit silently alone, if this is what the Lord intends. ²⁹Being rubbed in the dirt can teach us a lesson; ³⁰we can also learn from insults and hard knocks.
    ³¹The Lord won't always reject us! ³²He causes a lot of suffering, but he also has pity because of his great love. ³³The Lord doesn't enjoy sending grief or pain. (CEV)

Isaiah 38: ¹⁷It was for my own good that I had such hard times. But your love protected me from doom in the pit, and you turned your eyes away from my sins. (CEV)

2 Corinthians 4: ¹⁶We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. ¹⁷These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.   ¹⁸Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.  (CEV)Also see Rom 8: 18.

Luke 14:  26You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. 27You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me... 33So then, you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own. (CEV)

James 1: ²My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. ³You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. ⁴But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. (CEV)

Romans 8: ²⁷All our thoughts are known to God... ²⁸We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him... (CEV)

Hebrews 12: ⁷Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don't all parents correct their children? ⁸God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't belong to him... ¹¹It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.  (CEV)

1 Peter 2: ²¹...God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ...  (CEV)

2 Corinthians 1: ⁵We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives...  (CEV)

1. Why should we be willing for God to test our faith, even by adversity and troubles?
2. How can we trust God to work out everything for our good no matter how it feels to us?
3. Tell your own experiences disciplining your children to make them good children.
4. What happens in a small friendly group that helps us be accountable, fair, and forgiving?

Please study the above references and questions and then addyour observations and applications:
Observations                                                             Application
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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