Week 3: The Cost of Love and Faith

Theme: Living in God’s Kingdom means embracing a love and faith that often defy our expectations, inviting us to sacrifice, trust, and grow in humility.

Focus Scripture: Mark 8:34-35 – “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Connect: Desperation can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling alone and uncertain about where to turn. In those moments, doubt can creep in—doubt that anyone, even God, sees our struggles or cares enough to help. Reflect on a time when you felt this way. How did you respond, and where did you look for hope?

Engage: The people of Israel were traveling through the wilderness, and they were incredibly thirsty. They couldn’t find water, and their fear and frustration started to take over. They even began to question whether God cared about them. But instead of abandoning them, God unexpectedly provided for them. He told Moses to strike a rock, and water poured out—enough to quench the thirst of everyone.

This story reminds us that God is always present, even when we doubt or feel hopeless. His help might not always come the way we expect, but He knows what we need and is faithful to provide.

Apply: Is there an area in your life where you’re struggling to trust God’s provision? Take a moment to reflect on His faithfulness. Pray for the courage to let go of your expectations and trust Him to meet your needs in His way.