The Chosen – Is that in the Bible, Part 3

The Miracle You Never Saw Coming

Pain is a problem. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33 NLT)

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Pain has a problem. Pain’s problem is Jesus…

Romans 8:28 (NLT) 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.

Luke 21:26 (NLT) People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth… -

Luke 21:28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT) For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.

Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.

Pain is used by God – 3 ways God uses OUR pain…

1) To speak to us - Isaiah 45:3 (NLT) And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

BIG idea - “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C. S. Lewis. -

2) To grow our faith - James 1:2,3 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

3) To comfort others - 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT) He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Isaiah 35:4-6 (NLT) Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” 5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. 6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!

Discussion

What’s one area of your life where you need sustaining grace more than a dramatic miracle?

Have you ever seen God use your pain or story to impact someone else’s life?

What would it look like this week to lean into your weakness and experience God’s strength instead of resisting what He’s doing?

What stood out to you most from the message or the conversation between Jesus and Little James?

Have you ever prayed for something and felt disappointed when it didn’t happen? How did you respond

What have you learned through pain that you might never have learned otherwise? What “treasure of darkness” (Isaiah 45:3) has God revealed in your own hard seasons?

What might it look like to trust Him with the pain you’re carrying right now? The message showed us that “Sometimes the mountain that needs moving is inside you.” What area of your heart might God be trying to transform, even if the trial remains?