Small Group study notes for Week of Dec. 3-9, 2006: What Do You Do When You Hit Rock Bottom?

What Do You Do When You Hit Rock Bottom?
Rising Above
Sunday December 3, 2006

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” Dale Carnegie

2 Kinds of Storms
(Jonah 1:1-17/ Matthew 14:23-33)

I. CORRECTING Storms

II. PERFECTING Storms

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

What Can We Do When We Hit Rock Bottom?

Rock bottom…

You are ready to let God assume control, and are through controlling, manipulating, and trying to create a desired outcome.  You are ready to accept the circumstance, and willing to trust God for the outcome. Vern Hyndman

1. Quit DIGGING.

“Pain is often the pathway to maturity. Unfortunately we want the product without the process.” - Rick Warren

2. CRY OUT to God.

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.   Psalms 107:11-13 (NIV)

1. Learn LIFE LESSONS.

8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.   Psalms 56:8 (NLT)

“No one gets an exemption from hardship on planet earth. How we receive it hinges on whether we believe in an alternate reality that transcends the one we know so well. The Bible never minimizes hardship or unfairness - witness books like Job, Psalms, and Lamentations. It simply asks us to withhold final judgment until all the evidence is in.” Phillip Yancey, Rumors of Another World Zondervan, 2003)

“Our goal can not be a life free of pain; it must be a life that’s right in God’s eyes.”  Wayne Cordeiro

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.   2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

31 But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

2. Follow Through with CHANGE.

“Will-power does not change men. Time does not change men. Christ does. Therefore ‘Let that mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.’”   Henry Drummond

17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.   John 13:17 (NIV)
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” John Powell

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.    Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)