Responding to Pain

In working with youth, one thing I have frequently experienced is the familiar question, "Why does God let bad things happen?" or students are going through a painful time in their life and can't make sense of it. One of the most powerful things you can do as a small group leader is to listen to the pain in their lives and not pretend like you have all of the answers, but that you can turn a student to Christ through Scripture to begin the healing process.

This may be a heavy topic coming off of spring break, but perhaps some of you were immersed in experiencing pain at home or on a mission trip and are trying to sort through things in your own life. One of the biggest road blocks in my own relationship with God have been times of pain that seem senseless to me. When I come back to Scripture, these times ultimately result in growth.

Take a look at this article from the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Seminary in California. Hopefully it will provide some helpful insight to answering students' questions about pain. Perhaps it isn't anything revolutionary, but it puts big ideas into words.

http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/2009/03/your-pain/

Megan