The Burning Bush
Side By Side - Chapter 13 “Pray During Trouble” February 4th-8th Reflections on Sunday’s Sermon (Genesis 34-36): 1. What is an important truth that stood out to you in Genesis 34-36 that you will commit to thinking and praying about this week?
2. What do you feel that the Lord has been teaching you about yourself, Jesus, and/or the gospel through His Word and through the sermon on Sunday (February 4th)?
Prayer As you begin your study this week, spend a few moments thanking God for being a God who hears us when we call out to Him. Thank Him for being a God who never abandons His people and for listening to us in our times of trouble. Think of a few people in your life who are experiencing difficult times and pray for them. As you pray, consider the following words of this prayer taken from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith and make them your own before the Lord. “Merciful Jesus…I begin today restless with concern. I’ve got friends dangerously depleted, spiritually numb, and close to giving up… Jesus, I am weary and burdened for my friends, and I do bring them to you right now. Out of the strength of your gentleness and the power of your humility, give me what I need to love them well. Show me how to pray and wrestle in the Holy Spirit for them. I take on your yolk because it unites me to you. I simply cannot do this alone. Free me to be comfortable with not being able to fix anything. None of this is about my competency; it’s about their crises and your glory. Indeed, more than anything, I want you to receive much glory in each of their very broken stories. Write stories of redemption for your name’s sake. Bring your resurrection power to bear in each of their situations, I pray. The things that are impossible with me, as a mere man, are more than possible with you. Keep me restless for my friends, Jesus, but keep me fully resting in you. I pray in your gentle, humble-hearted name. Amen.” 1
*The following content is directly copied from the Study Guide for
Side by Side Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love
Edward T. Welch
Prepared by Lydia Brownback
W H E ATO N , I L L I N O I S
2
13
Pray during Trouble Overview When a friend is troubled, the best way we can help is to pray. We pray for our friend, and we pray with our friend. When we pray together, “a two-dimensional conversation . . . goes three-dimensional. We come alongside the sufferer and bring God and the suffering together. We bring light into claustrophobic darkness,” Welch writes (p. 113). In this chapter we explore how to pray for hurting friends—prayers for healing, for comfort, and, above all, for faith.
Questions for Discussion or Reflection 1. Welch writes, “Sickness is always a spiritual matter in that it raises questions about God’s care and
goodness, and it is an opportunity to grow in trust and obedience” (pp. 115 –16). How does this truth impact our prayers for others as well as the words of comfort we offer?
2. Review 2 Corinthians 4:16–18. Do you share the perspective Paul reveals in this passage? Why or
why not?
3. Welch says, “We honor God when we know his comfort” (p. 116), and we see how this is true in 2
Corinthians 1:3–4. Where have you seen that played out in your helping of others?
4. How is God’s comfort beneficial for both sufferer and helper?
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Pray during Trouble
5. Why is praying for the growth of sufferers’ faith even more important than praying for their
deliverance from suffering?
6. Why is following up with someone we’ve prayed for so vital?
Recap Review your answers to the questions on page 121 and then consider them afresh below. 1. Commit to praying this week not just for but with someone in need.
2. With whom do you need to follow up? Set a concrete time to do so.
4
2. What do you feel that the Lord has been teaching you about yourself, Jesus, and/or the gospel through His Word and through the sermon on Sunday (February 4th)?
Prayer As you begin your study this week, spend a few moments thanking God for being a God who hears us when we call out to Him. Thank Him for being a God who never abandons His people and for listening to us in our times of trouble. Think of a few people in your life who are experiencing difficult times and pray for them. As you pray, consider the following words of this prayer taken from Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith and make them your own before the Lord. “Merciful Jesus…I begin today restless with concern. I’ve got friends dangerously depleted, spiritually numb, and close to giving up… Jesus, I am weary and burdened for my friends, and I do bring them to you right now. Out of the strength of your gentleness and the power of your humility, give me what I need to love them well. Show me how to pray and wrestle in the Holy Spirit for them. I take on your yolk because it unites me to you. I simply cannot do this alone. Free me to be comfortable with not being able to fix anything. None of this is about my competency; it’s about their crises and your glory. Indeed, more than anything, I want you to receive much glory in each of their very broken stories. Write stories of redemption for your name’s sake. Bring your resurrection power to bear in each of their situations, I pray. The things that are impossible with me, as a mere man, are more than possible with you. Keep me restless for my friends, Jesus, but keep me fully resting in you. I pray in your gentle, humble-hearted name. Amen.” 1
*The following content is directly copied from the Study Guide for
Side by Side Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love
Edward T. Welch
Prepared by Lydia Brownback
W H E ATO N , I L L I N O I S
2
13
Pray during Trouble Overview When a friend is troubled, the best way we can help is to pray. We pray for our friend, and we pray with our friend. When we pray together, “a two-dimensional conversation . . . goes three-dimensional. We come alongside the sufferer and bring God and the suffering together. We bring light into claustrophobic darkness,” Welch writes (p. 113). In this chapter we explore how to pray for hurting friends—prayers for healing, for comfort, and, above all, for faith.
Questions for Discussion or Reflection 1. Welch writes, “Sickness is always a spiritual matter in that it raises questions about God’s care and
goodness, and it is an opportunity to grow in trust and obedience” (pp. 115 –16). How does this truth impact our prayers for others as well as the words of comfort we offer?
2. Review 2 Corinthians 4:16–18. Do you share the perspective Paul reveals in this passage? Why or
why not?
3. Welch says, “We honor God when we know his comfort” (p. 116), and we see how this is true in 2
Corinthians 1:3–4. Where have you seen that played out in your helping of others?
4. How is God’s comfort beneficial for both sufferer and helper?
3
Pray during Trouble
5. Why is praying for the growth of sufferers’ faith even more important than praying for their
deliverance from suffering?
6. Why is following up with someone we’ve prayed for so vital?
Recap Review your answers to the questions on page 121 and then consider them afresh below. 1. Commit to praying this week not just for but with someone in need.
2. With whom do you need to follow up? Set a concrete time to do so.
4
