KCU/03/Ballers

Topic 15: Thriving in the midst of suffering?

Question: Based on what you know from the Bible & other sources (including the How People Grow reading), how (i.e., by what means) do you think a Christian can thrive in the midst of suffering? (Be sure to do more research into the issue. If the group cannot come to a consensus, feel free to have different group members each express their own opinions.)

Kyley's contribution sent to me: There are two types of suffering, therapeutic suffering and destructive suffering. Therapeutic suffering tears down aspects of our character that need to be torn down. God uses therapeutic suffering to rebuild people from their fallen, crippled state. Romans 5:3-5 states “…we rejoice in out sufferings because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…” Destructive suffering is totally outside God’s desire. Destructive suffering inflicts evil on a person’s heart and soul. God can make good things happen out of out bad pain. Examples of this would be the Holocaust, Cambodia’s Holocaust- Pol Pot’s reign, and September 11, 2001.