He cares about your pain

1. Read John 11:1-6 & 33-36 together.

In John 11:4, Jesus says that Lazarus' sickness "is for the glory of God." What does this tell us about how God will use difficult things in our lives? Discuss ways that you've seen God use difficult things in your own life for His glory.

2. Read Romans 12:15.

Discuss what these verses look like in a community setting. Have you experienced a time when joy and sorrow coexisted in your life? How did you navigate those mixed emotions? What role did your faith community play in those moments?

John 11:35 tells us that Jesus wept. Even though Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead He still took the time to cry with the ones mourning. What does this teach us about the importance of acknowledging and mourning pain, even when we know there is hope ahead?

3. Read each of the following verses and discuss some of the things you can take away from these verses and specifically how this verse helps you with times of difficulty or suffering. 

John 16:33, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22, Revelation 21:4

4. In times of suffering, it can be easy to feel isolated or forgotten. How does the truth that Jesus not only understands but actively enters into our suffering give you comfort in your moments of pain?

5. Grief, depression, and mental exhaustion are a part of the human experience, but they are not the end of the story. How can you share the hope of eternal life with others who are struggling with these realities? How can this hope shift your perspective on both the present and the future?