Wrestling with Sorrow: It Is Well

Message Study Questions

Message Summary

The song, It is Well, written over 150 years ago, still touches lives today. It explores great depths of sorrow in life while having hope in Christ.

Sorrow is a very real part of life. We make sense of it by lamenting. That is, wrestling with our sorrow. We must avoid the trap of “why,” blaming God and allowing sorrow to drive us away from Him. This becomes easier when we maintain a high view of God, renewing our mind on the person of God, His eternal attributes, especially His holiness, love and mercy. Part of this includes remembering and admitting our own sin, both in general and maybe specific to our loss. And with humility, repenting.

We also lament and wrestle with our sorrow by maintaining the eternal perspective. That is, clinging to the hope of eternal life and the promise that every tear will be wiped away. Renounce doubts of God’s love for you. Remember that God became flesh (Jesus Christ) and suffered a horrific death. Because He is the infinite, eternal God, He could bear the punishment for all the sins of all people for all time. The humiliation, the painful suffering and the separation from the Father are beyond what we can fathom. Yet it proves that He loves you. The cross proves God’s love for you—and His goodness.

1. What types of suffering do Jesus’ followers experience?
   

2. How are we justified before God? What does that have to do with how we process sorrow?
   

3. What does it mean to be sanctified as a believer? What does that have to do with processing sorrow?
   

Consider This

Sorrow is not something that you accept and move on. Grief will keep coming back. It’s something you wrestle with throughout life.

1. Read Romans 3:10-12, 23.

   • In God’s eyes, is anyone good?
   • What is the just result of the human condition according to Romans 6:23?
   • What part do difficulties and loss play in developing godly character?
     

2. How did Job react when he lost his family and his finances according to Job 1:20-21? Why do you think he was able to have this attitude?
   

3. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. What part does God have in comforting us in our sorrow? What part can we play in comforting others in their sorrows?
   

4. Who promises to be with believers through all of our suffering? Will He ever leave you? (Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 23:4)
   

5. Read James 4:6-10. Discuss the ways this passage applies to wrestling with sorrow.
   

6. In your own words, how does 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 provide an eternal perspective? What are some ways that can help you maintain that perspective?
   

7. What are some things people might normally give up in order to obtain some future reward?
   

8. Read Ephesians 1:3-8 and Romans 8:38-39. As you wrestle with your sorrow, why shouldn’t you doubt God’s love for you?
   

9. Read Romans 8:18-23, 26

   • How should we consider present suffering compared to future reward? What human experiences did Paul compare suffering/reward to in verses 22-23?
   • How does the Holy Spirit help us with our suffering? (verse 26)
   • How is it that Christians live in freedom (verse 21)?
   • What does this passage teach about the ultimate corruption of all living things? And by implication, natural disasters?
     

10. Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Read Romans 8:28-29. How can this possibly be true in the face of tragedy?
    

Moving Forward – Application

Jesus paid a terrible price to free us from the penalty of our sin. And terrible things happen because of sin. Although God doesn’t cause evil, He does allow suffering to happen.

1. What current circumstances do you need to wait patiently for God to work?
   

2. Is there anyone you could comfort with the comfort you received in the past?
   

3. Someone has said, “your misery can become your ministry.” What might that mean to you this week?
   

4. For what can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you with this week?