Week 40 GraceMen Weekly Update

This Week:
1. Prayer
2. Meditation
3. Quote
4. Events
5. Book Recommendation

Grace and Peace to you brothers.

Men, we've reached week 40 of our journey together, and this week we're diving into one of the most counter-cultural truths of biblical manhood: finding joy in the midst of our trials and difficulties. Our prayer focus calls us to ask the Lord to help us become men of joy, even when circumstances are tough, grounded in the powerful truth of James 1:2-4. The world tells us that strength means stoic endurance, but Scripture paints a radically different picture. When James commands us to "count it all joy" when we encounter various trials, he's calling us to a deeper understanding of what it means to be strong men of God. This joy isn't superficial happiness that depends on favorable circumstances; it's the supernatural strength that comes from knowing God is working through our difficulties to shape us into mature, complete men who lack nothing. True biblical masculinity isn't threatened by hardship but refined by it, and when we face trials with joy, we demonstrate the kind of Christ-like strength that enables us to serve others even while suffering, lead our families with hope in dark times, and reflect God's faithfulness when everything seems uncertain. This week, as we meditate on how joy can be a source of strength in our lives as men of God, let's remember that the same Spirit who gave Jesus strength to find joy even while enduring the cross lives in us today, enabling us to become men who don't just survive difficulties but actually draw strength from them as we grow in Christian maturity and godliness.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be a man of joy, even in difficult circumstances. (James 1:2-4)

Meditation: 

Reflect on how joy can be a source of strength in your life as a man of God.

Quote:

“The farmer does not sift his wheat because he dislikes it, but just the opposite; he sifts it because it is precious. And thou, child of God, thy trials and changes, and constant catastrophes, and afflictions, are no proofs of want of affection on the part of the Most High, but the very contrary.” – Charles Spurgeon

Events:

Tuesday - September 30, 2025

Morning Bible Study - 6am - 7:15am

• At the Church in the Tower Room
• Cleve Powell facilitating 

Thursday - October 2, 2025

Evening Bible Study - 8pm

• At the Church in the Tower Room
• Cleve Powell facilitating

Saturday - October 4, 2025

Morning Bible Study - 7am

• At the Church in the Prayer Room
• Topic: Hosea 5:1-15:  When God Withdraws 
• Facilitator: Eugene Allen

Book Recommendation:

Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges

If you've ever wrestled with trusting God during life's darkest moments, Jerry Bridges' "Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts" offers exactly what you need; not superficial comfort, but rock-solid biblical truth that can anchor your faith through any storm. Born from Bridges' own season of profound adversity, this Scripture-saturated masterpiece tackles the hard questions that shake believers: Why does a good God allow suffering? How can we trust when circumstances make no sense? Rather than offering quick fixes, Bridges builds an unshakeable foundation based on three biblical truths—God's complete sovereignty, infinite wisdom, and perfect love—that transforms how you view every painful circumstance. Readers consistently testify to life-changing impact, with one declaring, "Aside from the Bible, this book has had the most impact in my life," while another noted it's "for those looking for something to build their faith on, something to fall back on to strengthen their spiritual life". This isn't feel-good theology but practical, battle-tested truth that meets you in your 3 AM doubts and equips you not just to survive adversity but to find purpose, hope, and even gratitude within it—making it essential reading for anyone who wants faith robust enough to withstand life's inevitable hardships.

In His Service,
GraceMen