• Main Idea: Despite the seemingly chaotic nature of our suffering, God has a plan for you.
• Head Change: To learn that God often calls us to surrender our will to Him when calamity comes.
• Heart Change: To appreciate the concern others share, which can bring tremendous comfort.
• Life Change: To relinquish control to God by giving others access to our painful moments.

Describe a time when what you knew seemed insufficient to a problem that you faced.

God will often bring trials that extend far beyond any experiences that you have had. He seeks to deepen your trust in Him through new, unexplored facets of life. These facets often involve difficulties that require your faith amid uncertain times.

In this session, Lamar Hardwick, explores the troubles he faced during his cancer treatments while wondering why God watched him endure the difficulties that came with it. Appreciating his journey can help prepare us for the difficulties we will endure.

Read Matthew 13:24-30
Show Session 3: Letting Others In (6 minutes).

Lamar knew many things about ministry because of the truth in God’s Word, yet knowledge of facts melted in the face of his cancer diagnosis. He shares, “Suffering, disability, and chronic illness smirk in the face of our claims that knowledge provides a form of certainty and power over the trials of life.”

What changes to our faith come when we are tested by such trials?

GOD INTENTIONALLY ALLOWS OUR SUFFERING.

Lamar asks, “Has it ever seemed that God, who claims to have unlimited power, just sits by and watches tragedy after tragedy happen and does absolutely nothing about it?” Why does our suffering lead us to question God?

The parable in our text reminds us that God is unsurprised by our suffering. He knows about it and even allows it. This may be difficult to come to terms with. What does God’s knowledge and acceptance of our suffering teach us?

Though we become alarmed and fearful about our circumstances, God is not surprised. We must imitate a divine expectation of suffering. How can the expectation of suffering deepen our faith?

GOD HAS AUTHORITY OVER OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Lamar explains, “What’s important to notice is this story is that the farmer took charge of the situation because he had a plan for the wheat. While the workers were panicking, the field owner was planning.” We may panic, but God has a plan. How have you seen God make sense of the biggest messes in your life?

Life’s trials often lead us to develop self-reliance as we find ways to handle them, but God often brings trials to help us trust others more. He asks a question that we should consider: “How do we learn to surrender to God’s plan in the midst of our pain and suffering?”

GOD BRINGS OTHERS TO HELP US HANDLE OUR DIFFICULTIES.

The parable involves both the servants and the harvesters. Lamar explains, “While the workers were able to identify the problem, the harvesters were called in to assist with the problem. This suggests to us that there are times when we need others to help us navigate our season of suffering.” God does not expect you to have all the answers or to shoulder your difficulties alone.  Why do you think people try to handle our difficulties without the help of others?

Lamar states, “God doesn’t expect you to have all the answers and God doesn’t expect you to handle your problems alone.” How does this statement free you to allow others to help you through life’s trials?

The weeds of life can grow so big that we cannot handle them alone. Prayer is a chief tool to seek God’s intervention amid trials.

Lamar explains, “There are times when our need for prayer transcends our need for privacy.” What would drive you to value prayer over privacy when you endure trials?