1. Change is unavoidable.
“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” —Genesis 8:22 (NLT)
There is no growth without change
There is no change without loss
There is no loss without grief
There is no grief without pain
2. Change is not always good, God uses it for good.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. —Romans 8:28 (NLT)
3. God’s purpose in every circumstance is to make me more like Jesus.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. —Romans 8:28 (NLT)
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. —Romans 8:29 (NLT)
1. Invest more time alone with God.
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired… But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)
2. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening?”, ask, “What do you want me to learn?”
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. —Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
3. Focus on what never changes.
“I have loved you…with an everlasting love.” —Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” —Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)
But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. —Psalm 33:11 (NLT)
4. Keep telling God, “I trust you no matter what”.
He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. —Psalm 112:7 (TLB)
Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God. —Psalm 27:3 (GNT)
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: You have your own late night talk show. Fill out your roster (can be from any time period):
1. First Guest:
2. Second Guest:
3. Band that performs and the song that they play:
1. Today, we learned this:
1. There is no growth without change.
2. There is no change without loss.
3. There is no loss without grief.
4. There is no grief with no pain.
Talk about a time you went through an unavoidable change that you did not like, but it ended up benefiting you.
2.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28
What confidence does this verse give you about changes and stress that occur in your life? When has it been hardest to believe this verse?
3.
“Don’t you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, and he created everything on this earth? And he never grows tired or weary … Instead, he gives strength to those who are weary and worn out; and he gives power to the weak. Even young people become exhausted and want to give up. But those who trust and wait on the Lord will find new strength, flying high like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They’ll keep going and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)
Which of these promises mentioned in Isaiah 40:28-31 do you find the most uplifting? Why? Which of these promises would you tell to someone that is going through relentless change?
Going Deeper:
What stresses/changes are you going though now? If comfortable, talk about them with each other. Then, come up with a plan to:
• Spend more time with God
• Ask what God is wanting you to learn
• Focus on things that don’t change
• Trusting God no matter what