Coach: Ask your student to read out-loud the below title and the text in the two boxes. Then ask them to comment on how often they actually think one way versus the other way.

So, what’s all this got to do with trusting God?
If you see God as dumping on you, it will be difficult to trust Him—and you may think that if you let Him have His way completely in your life, there is no telling how miserable He might make you.
On the other hand, if you see God bringing trials into your life to enrich your life and cause you to have more intimate fellowship with Him, then you will intuitively trust Him more—because you see that He is continually committed to blessing you.


An opportunity for spiritual training:
As you experience difficult situations in your life, you will see them as either blessings to be viewed positively, or you will see them as negative things to be gotten rid of as soon as possible and avoided in the future.


Exercise #1
Between now and your next coaching session, turn your mind toward the idea that all circumstances are beneficial to you (refer to and study
Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.   (ESV)
;
James 1:2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,   (ESV)
;
1 Peter 4:12-13Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.   (ESV)
). Try to find and write down several instances of uncomfortable experiences you have and try to see how in each of those situations, God is working to draw you closer to His Son Jesus. Intimacy with Jesus increases as your flesh loses influence on your soul and you compare His infinite love to the futility of getting your needs met temporarily through your physical senses (
Gal 4:9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?   (ESV)
).


Coach: Discuss both of these practical exercises with your student. Then consider assigning one or both of them for homework to be done before your next coaching session.



Exercise #2
Also, before your next coaching session, think about a time when your “feelings were hurt.” Can any person say anything about you that replaces what Jesus says about you? (What does Jesus say about you in the following verses:
  • Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.   (ESV)
  • Matthew 10:29-31Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.   (ESV)
  • 1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.   (ESV)
  • Ephesians 1:3-5Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,   (ESV)
  • Romans 8:38-39For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.   (ESV)
  • John 15:15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.   (ESV)
  • ...and there are MANY others.
Is allowing someone to make you feel badly about yourself a faith crisis?

Rejoice in realizing who has the power and who doesn’t, what is good and what is evil (absence of good).

When you have completed the above homework and are ready to proceed, click here to select your next coaching question.