Protect Your Peace - "Grievances, Grumblings, & Gratitude"

1. Complaining and murmuring during difficult times is a good way to forfeit not only our peace, but what He’s promised to us. Sometimes, the situations we find ourselves in are of our own disobedience, but we misplace our anger. Directing it toward other people or sometimes even God. Who have you let your frustrations out on when the situation was really of your own making? How did you correct it? What did you learn from the experience?

   
   

2. We will have difficulties in this lifetime. It’s a fact so unavoidable that even Jesus suffered challenges. He was effectively homeless for much of His earthly ministry. Jesus lost friends and loved ones and felt everything else we feel. Despite also feeling deep, emotional, and spiritual hurt, He showed us the appropriate way to handle it. What is something currently causing you distress? What is one thing you could do to improve your response to more closely resemble Jesus?

   
   

3. Pain gives us a perspective of what’s really important in life. Even when things aren’t going our way, we can express gratitude for what God has done for us. Doing this allows us to not only protect our peace but puts us in a better position to receive what God has in store for us after the storm has passed. Even if you're experiencing something that feels insurmountable right now, this too shall pass. Can you share a time you were going through what at the time felt like an impossible situation? How did God bring you out? What did you learn about God?

Quotes:

“There’s a cost to freedom”

“If you complain, you’ll remain”

“if you don’t handle your trauma, your trauma will handle you”

“Groaning is always better than grumbling”

“Pain gives you a perspective of what’s really important”