When storms are raging
Activity
Icebreaker
What’s the hardest part about being a teenager?
What’s the best part about being a teenager?
Caring question to group members
What motto or Bible verse encourages you when things are tough?
When storms are raging
Life is a mixture of laughing, crying, excitement, boredom, loving and hurting.
When we become children of God, the way we handle storms might change, but it doesn’t mean we won’t have to brave any storms for the rest of our lives.
Tough times can shake us up. The best way to handle it, is not to deny that it’s there and that it scares you. Then it only becomes like a wound that you hide with a band-aid and allow the poisonous infection to spread to the rest of your body.
It’s OK to be honest to God and each other about it.
We can take all our fears and hurt to God, invite Him into the situation and ask for strength and peace to get through the storm stronger and in one piece.
And we can support each other and pray for each other. God put people in our lives so that we can take hands and face the storms together. Together it’s so much easier!
It’s not a weakness to admit it when things are tough. Let’s be honest. We need God and each other.
What does the Word say?
Romans 8:18-21
“That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.”
John 16:33
“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
“Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”