Waiting in the Dark
How to use this Bible Study
If you are in a group: Complete the sections that have a white background together. The sections with a peach background should be completed individually. Then come back together and talk about what you have written.
If you are doing a solo devotional: Read through and complete the journalling prompts as usual, and use the discussion questions as an additional journaling prompt.
Introduction
You are not alone in your dark, sad, angry feelings. Whenever you are feeling lost, God is there with you. And He has comfort to offer you in His Word. Today we are reading from Lamentations, a book about loss.
Before we begin, picture your favorite place. It might be a place you go on vacation, a spot in the park, a friend’s house, or any place that you feel at peace and long to visit over and over again. Be specific. And create an image of this place in your mind.
Ask the Group: What favorite place did you pick?
The passage we are going to read is in Lamentations. Lamentations is believed to be written by Jeremiah, who has just seen the temple of God destroyed and his country taken over by the Babylonians. He feels hopeless and lost. And in his sadness he writes a poem about what is happening to Jerusalem.
To help you try to understand how Jeremiah feels, imagine that your favorite place you chose has been ruined. Buildings crumbled, trash everywhere, trees uprooted, fire, darkness and you are alone. This might seem like a terrible thing to imagine. But thankfully, it is only a picture in your mind. And there is hope at the end of the Bible study today. Keep this image of a ruined place in your mind as you read Jeremiah.
Before You Read
Ask God to be with you as you read the Bible. You can say your own prayer, or use the one below:
“God, please keep my mind focused as I read Your word. Give me an open mind. Amen.”
Close your eyes and really imagine the ruined place. What do you see? How does it make you feel. Keep imagining that place as you read the next passage.
While you are reading, keep a pen and paper close by to take notes. Write down:
• Questions you have about words, actions or people
• Things that you think are amazing or incredible
• Thoughts about how you would have reacted
• Connections between other Biblical stories you have read before
Read Lamentations 3:1-33
Where to find it: Lamentations is in the Old Testament. If you open your bible to the middle it will be in the right half of the book. It is a small book, only 5 chapters, so it is easy to miss. You will find it between Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Journal
Look back over the passages and choose one message from verses of hope (v. 22-33) that stood out to you.
Write down the passage in your journal.
Read Ezra 1:1-7
Where to find it: Ezra is between 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah. Even though it takes place in history after Lamentations, it is earlier in your bible. This is because Ezra is a book of history, and is grouped with other books of history. Lamentations is a book of poetry, and is grouped with other books of poetry.
Reflect
The Israelites rebuild what was broken. A second temple was constructed, and stood for more than 400 years. We can always place our hope for the future on God’s promises. Because he always keeps them.
Spend a few minutes reflecting on the place you chose. Picture it whole, sparkling, rebuilt and made even better than it was before.
Whatever you may be experiencing now, or in the future, There is hope that God will make it new. God is capable of bringing restoration and good fruit from any situation.
Discussion Questions
Think back to the ruined place you imagined. What do you think you would say to God if that was real
When you pray, do you talk to God openly about your feelings/thoughts? How do you pray?
Do you believe that God has a plan when things are bad?
Is there anything that you are angry at God for?
What message of hope did you choose and why? (If you read aloud, ask students to look over passages and choose a message now)
What are you grateful for today?
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