Describe a time when you won something.

Describe a time when a valley came to an end for you.

This week Jeremey listed  ways God uses suffering in our lives (e.g., revealing our need for Him, shaping our character). Which of these purposes has felt most true in your story? Why?

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This passage focuses on mourning with hope. While this refers to mourning death we can also include mourning many other losses. How does this kind of hope change the way you respond to suffering or loss compared to those without it? How can we as followers of Jesus remain grounded in this kind of Hope even when the world around us does not?

Jeremey spoke about the differences between human hope and God’s hope, where do you find yourself most tempted to rely on human strength or control in life’s valleys? What helps you shift toward trusting God’s promises?

2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1-4 Each of these speak of a renewed creation in the future. How can “living in the future now” influence the way we handle present struggles and help others around you? What are practical ways to keep an eternal perspective in your daily life?