It’s common for group members to want to move toward practical help or superficial change without addressing the heart’s response to their circumstances.
>> Example <<
Concern: “They’ve been making some big layoffs at work lately and I’m pretty sure my department is next. I find myself preoccupied with losing my job and wondering how I’m going to pay my mortgage.”
Superficial response #1: “My company has been hiring lately, and I think they’ll have need for people with your background.” (This may be helpful at a later time, but it does not address the heart.)
Superficial response #2: “Are you reading your Bible before you go to work in the morning? I read through the Bible every year, and I find that making this my daily practice really helps me with the stress of the job.” (A wonderful practice, but it does not adequately apply the Word to this specific situation and the response of the heart to it.)
Superficial response #3: “The Bible says, ‘My God shall provide all your needs…’ You just have to trust him.” (Again, true and good, but to find this trust, we have to dig deeper into who God is, how we fail to believe him, how we need to discard our false beliefs and then lay hold of his marvelous promises.)
Getting to the heart: “What exactly do you fear?…Who is the Lord in this situation?…How does your fear reflect on your functional belief about God?” (This is the best help a group can give in that it gets to the heart, helps root out fear that may grow from pride and a denial of who God is, and cultivates faith in the character and promises of God.)
Thanks Jace for posting this. I am going to build a CG email from this. We are crazy right now with prep for a wedding that Cherylee is planning and I am playing in this weekend, but I have been thinking of you both over the last week or so and hope to catch up soon! Am praying that the Lord meets you mightily in MD!
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