Series: How God Guides Us
Topic: God’s Guidance in Difficult Circumstances
Main Idea: Sometimes the guidance God provides can lead us through difficult circumstances, but even there He is with us. In Him, can we find hope and comfort in any situation.

What’s a favorite “road trip” that you have taken? What made it so special—the sights, the company you were with, something else?

Read Psalm 23. What does this passage teach us about the guidance that God provides?

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

A. What are common responses people have when they walk through difficult personal circumstances – their own “valley of the shadow of death”?

B. What do you think God’s purposes might be for leading us to walk in these valleys?

C. Is there someone you know who has weathered difficult circumstances well? What made their experience stand out to you?

A. Is there a choice you made in your past that you feel was a mistake, but you came to see God’s presence in it and maybe even now see Him bringing good out of it? Describe that choice and the outcome to your group.

B. We learned this weekend that when we go through difficult circumstances, it doesn’t mean we made a wrong choice, but rather that difficulties are a part of life and God promises to be with us as we face them. What effect does that have on decisions you’ve made in the past or decisions you may have to face in the future?

C. How do we become more aware of God’s presence even in the “valley of the shadow of death”?

Sometimes God can bring a reminder of His presence through other people. Take some time to pray for and minister to each other.

Purpose: Introduce topic and get everyone talking.

What’s a favorite “road trip” that you have taken? What made it so special—the sights, the company you were with, something else?

This is a “lighter” question intended to get the conversation going.

Read Psalm 23. What does this passage teach us about the guidance that God provides?

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Here are some key points from Psalm 23 about how God guides us:

• He guides us like a Shepherd guides his sheep. Shepherd is also a widely used metaphor for kings in the ancient Near East and in Israel. The Lord is our Shepherd-King.
• The sheep are cared for in such a way that they have no need to want or strive.
• He guides us into green pastures (a reference to flourishing) and by still waters (literally “waters of resting places”).
• God guides us into paths of righteousness, which is closely related to “prosperity” (see Proverbs 21:21 and Isaiah 48:18), but also refers to God’s moral will.
• Sometimes God’s guidance leads us into valleys (hard circumstances), but His presence is constant and can ease our fears.
• Notice that the Psalm shifts from third person (The Lord is my shepherd) to second person (YOU are with me) – this highlights the importance of God’s relationality and his presence with us.
• The rod is an instrument of authority, but is also used for guiding, rescuing, and protecting.
• The staff is an instrument of support.
• The table is actually a reference to protection, but also refers to provision even in the presence of enemies and other challenges.
• Anointing the head with oil was a customary treatment of an honored guest at a banquet.

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

A. What are common responses people have when they walk through difficult personal circumstances – their own “valley of the shadow of death”?

B. What do you think God’s purposes might be for leading us to walk in these valleys?

C. Is there someone you know who has weathered difficult circumstances well? What made their experience stand out to you?

For part A, in difficult circumstances some may mention regret for choices they’ve made. They believe their challenge or “failure” is a result of their poor decisions. Some may question God’s goodness or his presence with them. Some may wonder what God is doing in the midst of their challenges. Some may get angry or even reject God.

For part B, ultimately, we don’t know all of God’s purposes in our circumstances. However, we DO know, as we mentioned previously in this series, that God is always working toward our sanctification. He’s always in pursuit of making us more like Christ, and valleys create opportunity for this. A related purpose may be that God uses valleys to draw us back to dependence on him because we’re reminded of our weakness and our need for Him. Additionally, our “failures” or our valleys aren’t necessarily a result of our poor decisions. Sometimes, in order to get to the green pastures, God must lead us through the valley. It’s easy to question God’s goodness in these valleys, but we only do so because we don’t see the good he is leading us to.

For part C, are there any themes you observe as your group members share? If so, reflect those back to the group.

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

A. Is there a choice you made in your past that you feel was a mistake, but you came to see God’s presence in it and maybe even now see Him bringing good out of it? Describe that choice and the outcome to your group.

B. We learned this weekend that when we go through difficult circumstances, it doesn’t mean we made a wrong choice, but rather that difficulties are a part of life and God promises to be with us as we face them. What effect does that have on decisions you’ve made in the past or decisions you may have to face in the future?

C. How do we become more aware of God’s presence even in the “valley of the shadow of death”?

For part A, you may also encourage group members to share a “mistake” that they made, even if they don’t see God’s presence in it. As a group, you can help them process and discern God’s work in the midst of their choice(s).

For part B, hopefully this idea brings freedom from the fear of failure. God’s promise is to not only be with us always, but also to work good in our lives even in the midst of our sin and failure. Additionally, this idea can increase our trust in God’s sovereignty – that God is ultimately in control and that His good and perfect will cannot be thwarted.

For part C, your group members may suggest going to the scriptures to be reminded of God’s unchanging nature and his promises. They may suggest that other believers can help us uncover God’s presence in our circumstances. They may suggest prayer – talking to God and asking him to reveal Himself in our circumstances by His Spirit.

Purpose: Imagine what your world would look like if the truths from the passage were lived out.

Sometimes God can bring a reminder of His presence through other people. Take some time to pray for and minister to each other.

This might be a new practice for your group, but Life Groups are one of the safest places to learn and practice ministering to each other in the power of the Holy Spirit. If there are people who shared earlier that clearly need prayer, ask if you can pray over them. If it isn’t clear who to pray for, ask someone in the group to take a step of faith and share a request with the group.

Ask if you can lay hands hands on the person you are praying for. Open your prayer time simply asking the Holy Spirit to lead you. Take a moment of silence and listen for how He may be leading you. It takes practice discerning his leading, but this is a great place to take a step of faith in prayer as we learn.

If you are unsure, praying scripture is an excellent place to start. Ask the Spirit to give you a scripture to pray over this person. It may not mean a lot to you, but the Spirit can use that scripture to touch that person’s heart. Excess words can often get in the way, so focus in on what the Spirit brings to mind, and simply pray that.

Continue to pray for your group members as needs are shared.

After the prayer time, debrief in the group with those that were prayed over. Ask if any of the prayers or words spoken over them resonated with them. Ask how they felt God meet them through the prayer. Celebrate any ways in which God used the group to minister to each other.