Message: Dealing with difficulty
Week of October 11, 2009

Thematic Focus
Learn to ask the right questions in the midst of the challenges you face.

Main Points
In order to deal with difficulty effectively in our lives we need to answer the questions:

·  What is the cause of this?
·  What can I learn from this?
·  What can I do in the midst of this?

The "Law of One Thing" says doing the next right thing after the next right thing will lead to success.

Some right things we can do when we're in the midst of difficult times:

·  Ask God for strength for today
·  Live in the moment
·  Accept difficulty as the price to be paid
·  Get encouragement from others
·  Imagine the payoff of endurance

Scriptural Lens:
·  Mark 4:35-41
·  James 1:2-4
·  John 14:27
·  James 1:12

Pursuing clarity
Use the following structure to guide your personal reflection and/or discussion:

Opening Prayer
Take a moment to recognize Christ’s presence with you.

Opening Reflection
What are some of the different ways people respond to difficulty?

Scriptural Focus
Take time to read the suggested Scriptures.

Group Discussion
Use these questions to reflect further:

1. Reference Mark 4:25-41 and identify the different aspects of the story that speak to our humanness. Identify the different aspects about God
2. Consider the reality that difficulty is created by others, the devil, and our own choices, as well as, allowed by God. How can understanding the real cause of difficulty in a person's life help?
3. How does God use difficult situations to teach us and grow us?
4. Reflect upon the principle of the "Law of One Thing" for a moment. How can doing the right thing followed by the next right thing get a person through difficult times?