Small Groups and Emotion

Small groups are now underway at The Hype, and we are all excited to get rolling! If you haven't gotten into a small group yet, or aren't sure what the big deal with small groups is, come on out on Wednesdays and find out!

With that in mind, and with God pulling on my heart, I've been really thinking quite a bit lately about emotion and how we deal with it. I sat in on a Sunday School class where we discussed emotionally stressful times, and of course the one recurring theme we have when we face obstacles or problems we think we can't overcome: "Why is this happening to me God?"

We can find all through Scripture that God has a plan for us, we just can't see the full scope of it. Also we know James chapter 1 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

As comforting as it is to know the Lord is in control, it can still feel like God is just piling on tragedy after tragedy and there's no plan behind it other than to make you feel awful.

Looking through the Bible, we see all sorts of people who truly suffered through tragedy. Job was put through all sorts of trials. David succumbed to temptation. And ultimately, Jesus was beaten, mocked, and gruesomely killed on a cross.

If you look at the reactions of these three men, a pattern is clearly seen. Job cried out to God asking why all the things were happening to him. David wrote an entire book of Psalms in worship of God. Even Jesus cried out on the cross "Father, why have you forsaken me?"

All three of them cried out to God with raw emotion. They didn't spare anything, worry about what they said, or make sure they had their manners. They cried out with what was on the hearts.

As we get more comfortable in our small groups, I'd like to challenge everyone, not just the students but adult leaders as well, to express that raw emotion that is found all throughout the Bible. God has granted us our emotions, not to bottle them away, but to express them. In joy we should be excited to praise and worship, and through tough times we should be able to ask God why.

-Mike Meade