Suffering: God’s Refining Fire

“When you pass through the waters;
        I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
        they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
        you will not be burned;
        the flames will not set you ablaze.” — Isaiah 43:2

In this month’s Fellowship Study, we will tackle one of the most difficult issues for people of all faiths: Suffering. We will explore the tough questions — Why do bad things happen to good people while good things happen to bad people? What is the purpose of suffering? How can we, as people of faith, cope when suffering comes into our lives?

None of us is immune from the trials and difficulties of life on earth. We all experience suffering of some form in our lives. Through this study, we will discover biblical insights into coping with suffering and growing through difficulties. It is my heartfelt prayer that together we will gain guidance and understanding into navigating troubled waters with faith and that we will be filled with the knowledge that God is with us, guiding us through every difficult circumstance that comes our way.