Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Trusting God When Life Seems Out of Control
Read Chapter 7 of Trusting God. Key passages: Psalm 57; Isaiah 43:1–3; Proverbs 16:9.
Previewing Week 8 of Trusting God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
There is a particular kind of suffering that comes not from a single blow but from the feeling that everything is unraveling — Bridges speaks directly into that disorienting experience.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Bridges addresses the feeling that life is spinning out of control — that events are multiplying, circumstances are shifting, and no firm ground can be found. How does the truth of God's sovereignty speak specifically to that feeling, as opposed to other kinds of suffering?
2.Psalm 57, written when David was fleeing from Saul in a cave, models how to cry out to God honestly while simultaneously declaring trust in His purposes. What elements of David's prayer does Bridges highlight, and what can we learn from David's pattern of bringing both lament and praise?
3.Isaiah 43:1–3 contains remarkable promises: 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you... when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned.' Notice God doesn't say 'I will keep you from the waters and the fire.' How does Bridges interpret the significance of God's 'with you' rather than God's removal of difficulty?