Read James 1:1-2. No matter what you might do, or how much you try to be in control of life, bad things sometimes happen to good people. One of the major themes in the first chapter of James is that faith equals perseverance when life doesn’t make sense. Faith doesn’t exempt people from some of the bad things that happen in life, but faith helps you persevere through those things that might challenge you.

• Do you ever ask the question ‘why do bad things happen to good people?’ What have you concluded?


• Describe a situation or time you realized what little control you actually have in this life.

Read Acts 8:1 and II Corinthians 4:8-11. Scripture doesn’t explain or even try to explain why bad things happen to good people. What it does say is to expect those things to happen. Faith doesn’t remove you from the problems of the broken world, but empowers you to thrive through those problems.

• Describe a time you really felt hard pressed or overwhelmed by life circumstances. What happened?


• Do you feel closer to Jesus during hard times or during good times in life? Why?

Read Romans 8:28, Isaiah 55:8-9 and James 1:22. The question is not why do bad things happen but what is the will and bigger purposes of God? God never causes pain or evil, but being all powerful, allows those things to happen, and takes them to redeem them for a greater outcome. The incredible story of Joseph is a great example. Joseph, after being sold into slavery, ended up in prison so that he could meet Pharaoh to literally save the whole world from famine. (Genesis 37, 39-41)

• Have you ever seen God take a bad situation and use it for great ministry or faith building? Explain.


• What tough life situation do you need to turn over today, so God can redeem it for God’s purposes and will?

Read Matthew 5:13-16. What are the purposes of God for you and other followers of Jesus? God’s whole purpose is for you to be the light of the world for God’s kingdom. You won’t ever fully understand all that happens in your life whether good or bad, but God’s faithfulness will redeem any and every situation into incredible opportunity to show others the love and saving grace of God. Everyone will die eventually of something. The question is will you die in the will of God, doing the work of God.

• When you face tough situations do you let God’s light shine through you? Can you name a time this happened recently?


• If you had one year to live, how would you change your priorities and what life would you live?


• Where do you need to become light in this world filled with uncertainty, confusion, and pain?