Study Guide: When God Doesn’t Make Sense

Sunday February 17, 2008 | Scott Abbott

Focus Scripture:

• Romans 8:28

  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Brief Summary:

As a person with muscular dystrophy, Scott has countless personal experiences that illustrate the principles that Greg taught about in the previous two sermons. Scott has personally wrestled with questions about why some prayers are answered and others are not – most fundamentally related to why he himself hasn’t been healed.

Extended Summary:

This week, Scott Abbott shares about unanswered prayer from his personal experience. As a person who has muscular dystrophy he has had to personally wrestle with questions about why some prayers are answered and other are not. He has had to ask huge questions about why he has not been healed.

In his questioning he has realized that there are a few things that others have told him that are just wrong. These include:

• “If you only have enough faith, God would heal you.”
• “There must be some sin in your life that is preventing God from healing you.”
• “God’s infinite plan was to give you MD and then use it for his glory.”
• “You haven’t prayed enough.”
• “You have a demon of MD.”

As he faced these false statements, he had to process what God is actually doing through prayer. He has learned some key things. One of the primary things that he has learned that he does not know why some are healed and some are not. This not knowing how it all works comes in the light of a few things that he does now. These include:

• “I’ve learned that there’s more involved than just my faith.”
• “I’ve learned that there’s more involved that just God’s will, or his perfect plan for my life.”
• “I’ve learned that there are no formulas or magic phrases I can use and God will answer my prayers.”
• “I’ve learned that God has the amazing ability to take the ugliness of a broken situation and bring something beautiful out of it.”
• “I’ve learned that even though God didn’t cause my situation, he can and does use my difficulties for his glory.”
• “I’ve learned that above all else, God loves me. We’re called to trust that, despite all the uncertainties we face, God’s love will in the end triumph over all evil.”

Reflection Questions:

1. What does this passage tell us about how God uses difficult situations?
2. How have you seen God redeem difficult situations in your life or in someone you know?
3. How is God “working for good” different from God causing the pain or difficult situation?
4. What does this passage have to teach us about prayer and how we should pray?
5. Is there an area of your life where you are facing difficult situations and you need God to work something for good?

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