1. Read Colossians 1:9-12 out loud and together. Verse 11 talks about how Paul prays for those in Colossae. He prays they might have great endurance and patience amongst other things. Endurance and patience are nice concepts but grueling to live out at times. Endurance reminds me of mile 20 in the marathon when I hit a wall. Endurance was putting one foot in front of the other for the next 6.2 miles. Patience is waking up with the children at 1:15 am, 2:30 am, and 3:00 am and trying to put them back to sleep when you know you have an important day the next day. Life presents 20-mile walls and mid-night sleeplessness at times. But I am called to have joy and thankfulness through these times and that is only possible when the prayer for endurance and patience is answered. Discuss some of the challenges to joy that you have experienced recently.
2. How do you find yourself responding to your challenges in life?
3. Are there any challenges that directly impact your marriage?
4. Pray together about some of the challenges that you have discussed.