Finding God in the Darkness
ASL Interpretation – Message Only
The last week of Jesus’ life began with a parade of celebration and hope. He would be dead by the end of that week. What happened? Even in darkness, God is at work; it just doesn’t feel like it sometimes. And even though there is no darkness in God, He’s never opposed to entering the darkness. God does profound things there. So, don’t instinctively run from the darkness. You might be running from God.
Discussion Questions
In uncertain times, we can be prone to anxiety and fear. What do those emotions look like in your life?
In what ways does God use the appearance of defeat on the path to victory? (Note the triumphal entry to Jerusalem and Jesus’ subsequent crucifixion. John 12:2-13, Isaiah 53:7)
How do you reconcile that God is “light” but also present in darkness? (1 John1:5. Exodus 20:21, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 18:11, Psalm 139:12)
How can your personal darkness create receptivity to God’s presence and purposes?
Just as the rhythm of a day includes the night, so too, our spiritual rhythm includes darkness. How has God used darkness as a spiritual rhythm in your life? How have you grown spiritually from hardship and challenge?
When you run from darkness, how might you be running from God?
We look for immunity from disease but sometimes we look for immunity from life’s problems. In what sense is the Christian life not a life of immunity from problems?
What can you count on God to do when you’re living through difficulties?
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