Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 6 When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." 7 O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy; 9 "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. (NIV 84)

FROM THE LESSON

Four ways to understand the ups and downs in our lives:1 Good occurs with the bad2 Good outweighs the bad3 Good originates from the bad4 Good overcomes the bad

David uses three D's to describe his situation in life:1 You lifted me out of the depths (verse 1)2 When you hid your face, I was dismayed (verse 7)3 What gain is there in my destruction (verse 9)

Understanding the character of God:His anger is always appropriate but His favor is forever (verse 5).

Having a Sleepover with Sorrow:Literally, weeping is personified in this psalm as one who comes to spend the night with us (verse 5). 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1 Ice breaker: what has been your relationship with roller coasters? Do you have any good roller coaster stories to share with the group? 

2 The lesson looked at four ways for us to think about the ups and downs in our lives. The first way is that good occurs with the bad. We recognize that we live in a beautiful but broken world. David describes his life with these words: depths, dismayed, and destruction. Can you recall a situation or a season in your life when you felt this way? How does it help to recognize that good occurs with the bad? 

3 The second way is that good outweighs the bad. Read again verse 5a. "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime." When you think about God, which one outweighs the other in your mind, His anger or His favor? Discuss this as it pertains to the character of God. Now, when you step back and look at your lifetime, does the good outweigh the bad? How does this way help you think about the ups and downs in your life?

4 The third way is that there is good that originates from bad. Qualities like perseverance, patience, endurance, toughness, strength of character, hope, empathy and compassion are all good qualities that come from bad situations. Can you think of any other good qualities like these? How does this way help you think about the ups and downs in your life? 

5 Read again verse 11 and 12. The final way is that good overcomes the bad. It is the good news of the gospel. The one who is good overcomes all that is bad. Jesus overcomes every sin. Jesus overcomes all evil. Jesus overcomes sorrow and suffering. Jesus even overcomes death. How does knowing Jesus change the way you deal with the ups and downs of life?