Trusting God Study Guide

Over 500,000 copies sold “Why is God allowing this? What have I done wrong?” Many of us have asked these questions when life hits us hard. When our circumstances defy explanation, it is difficult to untangle our emotions from the truth. Before long, we feel confused and frustrated. We doubt His care for us. We wonder how He could allow these circumstances at all, or if He is really in control. During a time of darkness and adversity in his own life, Jerry Bridges dug deep into the Bible for answers on God’s sovereignty. What he learned changed his life—and it will change yours too. Find the answers to some of your most heartfelt questions, such as: Is God in control? Can I trust God? What is our responsibility when things are hard? How can I grow through adversity? And more Explore the scope of God’s care and control over nations, nature, and the tiny details of your life. You’ll find yourself trusting Him more completely―even when life hurts. Now with an added study guide for personal use or group discussion so you can dive deeper into this staple of Jerry Bridges’s classic collection. “The writings of Jerry Bridges are a gift to the church. He addresses a relevant topic with the wisdom of a scholar and the heart of a servant.” —Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author

Why is it easier to obey God than to trust Him? Because obeying God makes sense to us. In most cases, His laws appear reasonable and wise, and even when we don't want to obey them, we usually concede that they are good for us. But the circumstances we find ourselves in often defy explanation. Before long, we begin to doubt God's concern for us or His control over our lives. We ask, "Why is God allowing this?" or "What have I done wrong?" During such a time of adversity, Jerry Bridges began a thorough Bible study on the topic of God's sovereignty. What he learned changed his life, and in Trusting God he shares the fruit of that study. As you explore the scope of God's power over nations, nature, and even the details of your life, you'll find yourself trusting Him more completely--even when life hurts. This new edition replaces both Trusting God (paperback ISBN 9781600063053) and the study guide (paperback ISBN 9781600063060) by combining both resources into one volume

The most-underlined verse in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, says that God has a good plan for you—a plan to give you a hope and a future. Are you ready to believe it? Do you think you can really trust God's plan for your life—no matter what your life looks like right now? In this six-session video Bible study (DVD/video streaming not included), dynamic Bible teacher Megan Fate Marshman will take you through an engaging exploration of the significance of Jeremiah 29:11-14. Through interactive Bible study exercises, you will discover how to stop discounting yourself from a hopeful future, start living in active dependence on God, and find your way to the good plan He has for you. In this beloved passage of Scripture, Megan reveals how to trust God in your daily life and, more importantly, how to trust God's definition of good above your own. You will discover: Your not-enoughness is exactly enough for God, and that in fact, you have everything you need to take that first step into the life God has for you. How to stop counting yourself out because Jesus never has. God is up to something really good, and He's inviting you to join Him. How to hear and respond to God's voice, and intentionally grow a personal, intimate relationship with Him. How to defeat anxiety, trust God with all you're carrying and worrying about, and experience a life of freedom in relying on God daily. Designed for use with the Meant for Good Video Study available on DVD or streaming video, sold separately.

It's easy for us to trust God when life is going well. But when suffering comes, trusting God's goodness, his attentiveness to what's going on in the world, and his justice becomes far more difficult. In times of intense suffering, many of us ask, Why does God allow these things to happen? In the Bible, Job is known for facing intense personal suffering. Yet, upon closer examination, we find the book of Job is about more than just Job's calamities; it's a story about God and his relationship to Christ and his people in their suffering. In this helpful guide, Christopher Ash helps us explore the question, Where is God in the midst of suffering? As we read, meditate, and pray through the book of Job, we will find assurance that God will be with us in Christ through every season and trial.

You don’t have to understand God to trust him. “Just trust me.” Those are the words we often hear in movies just before something bad happens. And yet, we are told to trust God. In a culture where we tend to take control of our own lives, trusting God has become a religious platitude rather than a life-changing attitude. We say it, but do we really mean it? And what does trusting God really look like? Sharon, Mary, and Gwen—the Girlfriends in God ministry team—have been there. They’ve traveled the tough roads of life to discover the peace and power that comes from grabbing the hand of God and trusting his plan. The life stories they share bring laughter and sometimes tears, but always spiritual growth. Each of the 12-week sections concludes with a Bible study guide and journal page, inviting you to lock arms with Sharon, Mary, and Gwen and share with other women in a small group setting or to use individually in your own quiet time.

WHAT’S GOD DOING IN YOUR STORY? Our kids beg us for stories at bedtime or while we drive; we gather around firepits and dinner tables to tell and retell our favorite tales—the more dramatic the better. But when it comes to our actual lives, we prefer something less sensational, even boring—sunny skies and smooth sailing, please and thank you. We want our own stories to be predictable, safe, controllable, and catastrophe-free. When plans fall apart, jobs are lost, kids wander off, doctors give bad reports, we often wonder, "What are you doing, God? Are you sure you have this under control? It doesn’t really seem like it right now." God is the master Storyteller. He’s writing your story and it’s a part of His bigger, grander, eternal Story. But we’re still in the middle. We haven’t gotten to the happy ending yet, and it can be hard to trust Him in the thick of our struggles. That’s why Robert and Nancy share their own story, friends’ stories, and the stories of people in the Bible who have faced life-altering challenges, but, in the end, have found God to be faithful. Learn why you really can trust God to write your story—no matter what plot twists you may encounter along the way. "This is a unique and charming book, integrating stories of God’s providence from His people and His Word. Nancy and Robert write personally and beautifully, infusing readers with a Christ-centered vision, hope, and trust for the future." -Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven, Giving is the Good Life, and Deception "You Can Trust God to Write Your Story is an amazing book whose title says it all. For if you are a follower of Jesus, every day of your life—whether you feel like it or not—is weighted with kingdom purpose, eternal significance, and a royal destiny filled with joy and contentment. Let my dear friends, Robert and Nancy, help you embrace the mysteries of the Lord’s Providence. For when it comes to happy endings, you can’t find a better Author than the God of the Bible. Happy endings are His forte—turn the page, trust Him, and discover it for yourself." -Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10 (NKJV) Is it possible to live a life without worry? Worry and stress have a way a sneaking into our lives when we’re not looking. Yet God invites us to wave goodbye to this unwelcome duo and learn to depend on Him in everything. As worry and stress disappear in our rear view mirror, we discover new things about God, life, and others that we never imagined. In this study, we’ll look at men and women who faced challenging situations and impossible odds but discovered the power of relying on God every step of the way. Whether it’s Noah leading a herd of wild and whimsical creatures on wooden boat (with two termites!), Abraham leaving everything that’s familiar to venture into the great unknown, or Ruth embarking on an unforgettable love story, we’re reminded that the same God who led, guided, and protected them, leads, guides, and protects us, too. Features: Twelve weeks of Bible study Questions for discussion Leader’s Guide included for leading your small group study

When hard times come and it seems God is deviating from the plan we assume our life should follow, we're more likely to want to tame God, not trust Him. It's then that we begin to press into our ways and our own timing. No human can carry the weight of being their own god, but so many of us try. In this 6-session study of 1 & 2 Kings, join Lysa TerKeurst in Israel as she honestly reveals the places of distrust in her own heart while exploring the deeply applicable Scriptures that will teach us how to truly trust God. Features: Leader helps to guide questions and discussions within small groups Personal study segments with homework to complete between 6 weeks of group sessions Interactive teaching videos, approximately 15-25 minutes per session, available for purchase or rent Benefits: Identify and challenge doubts in the one true God. Explore how the Old Testament applies to our lives today. Learn to trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God.