Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.

1. What kinds of trials are most common amongst the people of faith that you know?
2. What kinds of trials are the ones that cause people to lose their faith, in your opinion?
3. What does God do to help us in our trials, and how can we explain this to others?

Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up. The following notes are for your interest and consideration.

Personal comment: This passage of scripture seems so easy to read, but I found that when I read it more and more, it came alive to me and I found deeper and deeper truths coming to my spirit, of which I have only conveyed a part, due to lack of space. Scripture can always do this, but it is precious when it does. My life is not great from an earthly perspective at the moment, but I can certainly know the joy of the Lord!

Ideas for discipleship programme

• Write down a list of the different things that are troubling you at the moment. With each one, bring them before the Lord in prayer, if possible with someone else, and see what the Lord will do to guide you
• Make sure that you listen carefully when talking to someone at church on Sunday, and try to hear through what they say whether they have trials and difficulties. Do your best to help bless and encourage the person you have spoken to.

Glorious Lord Jesus. We do not know what will happen to us next, and we never know when trouble or stress will hit us or for how long. We place our trust and our faith in You, Lord Jesus, for everything. You will lead us through our trials to heavenly joy! AMEN