1. What were some of the promised “if you do this…this will happen” things that didn’t work for you?

2. Why are people so intent on making God, and/or people, do stuff?

3. Have you ever had bad things happen to you that turned out good?

4. How do you think of death, and how does it affect you now?

5. What does enjoying life look like for you?

1. What has been the hardest part of your life in which you’ve had to accept someone else’s power?

2. How is the government affecting your life in a detrimental way? How do you respond?

3. Who has to adjust to you?

4. If God gave you the power to make one decision for Him, what would you choose?

1. Which verses in chapter 7 remind you of traps you fallen into, robbing you of joy and contentment?

2. What makes these traps so attractive?

3. How can we find better balance in our lives in these areas?

4. Which of the 10 traps in this chapter made you think the most?

1. What are some of the things that keep us from living in the present?

2. What were your joyful moments from this past week?

3. Do you have any possessions that control you too much?

4. What do you like to do when you need soul restoration?

1. Do you associate joy with a commitment to God? Why or why not?

2. When was the happiest time of your life so far? How much did you have?

3. Who taught you about what is important in life?

4. Why is our joy so important to God?

1. What do you value most in a friend?

2. Which area do you need to work on most to be a better friend?

3. Who outside your family has had your back when you needed it most?

4. What is the best way to deal with someone in your life who drains you?

1. What was the hardest season of your life to go through?

2. What perspective do you have now that you wish you’d had during that hard season?

3. Are you going through anything now that feels like it will never end? How would having hope right now change things?

4. Have you ever tried to change someone or something when it really wasn’t within your power to do so?

5. What areas do you need to commit to the Lord now so that you can get on with enjoying life?

1. How have you struggled with balancing work and pleasure?

2. When your life gets out of balance does work usually dominate or pleasure?

3. Why is it important to have realistic expectations for work and pleasure?

4. Have you ever used pleasures as self-medication? If so, how did you resolve it?

1. Share about a time when you knew something and wished you didn’t.

2. Share about a time when you didn’t know something but wished you did.

3. Do you ever avoid knowing certain things to avoid pain?

4. Do you think ignorance is usually bliss? If so, why not be deliberately ignorant?

5. What has been your experience with depression? How do most people treat depressed people?

1. What lessons did you learn about money, positively and negatively, when you were growing up?

2. What is the best money you’ve ever spent?

3. What is the worst money you’ve ever spent?

4. What do you need to improve on in your handling of money?

5. Who invested in you and your life?