1. What makes contentment difficult for us? 

2. The author asks "Has Christ, crucified and resurrected on your behalf, done enough to make you content today . . . or must he do a little bit more?" (page 40) Can you explain what he means in your own words?

3. Do you tend to view God more as king, judge, or as Father? Why does the word "fatherly" matter when talking about God’s control over our lives?

4. How can we come to delight in all of God's decisions for our lives? 

On page 57 Davis defines providence as: "The direct activity of God toward the universe He created, moment by moment sustaining its existence and overruling its events to cause the unfolding story of history to occur according to His will."

1. In your own words, give your understanding of God’s sovereignty over every molecule in the universe. In what practical ways do you see this truth in your life and in the world?

1. Of the 7 headings in this chapter, which was most unexpected to you? Which do you think you need to work on the most?
2. What does the author mean when he talks about “heavenly arithmetic” (see page 70-72)? Which do you find is more difficult for you: subtracting from your desires or adding to the burden of what you deserve?
3. What do you think of the questions on the bottom of page 73 (under “Doing the Duty of the Circumstance”)? Are there situations in your life where asking these questions might help you?
4. How can embracing suffering or embracing the shortness of life lead to greater contentment? 

1. How was Jesus able to remain perfectly content, despite the fact that he endured intense hardship and suffering throughout his life? What do you find striking about his example?

2. How did Christ win us access to the Father? How does access to God help us to be content? How is our access to God different than access to the emperor of the Forbidden City described on page 88?

3. How does the death and resurrection of Jesus promote and cultivate contentment in our hearts? 

1. Of the seven aspects of contentment the author describes, which is most challenging to you? How can this help motivate you to pursue contentment?

2. On pages 104-105, the author shows how contentment can help you fight temptations. Where in your life do you need to cultivate more contentment in order to resist temptation?

3. How does the author connect contentment and hope (see pages 106-107)? What promises of God can you remind yourself of this week as you seek to be more hope filled and content?

1. Davis writes, “Burroughs’s goal was very plain…he wanted his readers to hate the wicked habit of complaining against God during afflictions, to see how vile and corrupt a thing it is…” Is this how you view complaining, as a “wicked habit…vile and corrupt”? Or are you ever tempted to minimize complaining as something that isn’t really a big deal?

2. Davis lists out nine different “Evils of Complaining” on pages 110-120. Which of these did you find insightful, challenging or helpful as we seek to have a right understanding of what is happening when we complain?

3. Davis gives seven different excuses we often give into when complaining (pg. 121-127). Which of these do you struggle with most? Which of these has God helped you to grow in and what has that looked like? 

1. What can we learn about God’s purposes and suffering from the story of Joseph (Gen. 50:20-21, pg. 134-36)?

2. Davis mentioned several “heroes of the faith” (pg. 142-47) who are examples in how they endured suffering in their lives with contentment. Which of these examples encourages you and why? Are there other examples of Christians you know who have suffered well?  

1. The author, Davis, asserts that in some ways wealth can present a greater risk to contentment than poverty. Discuss some of the problems that wealth can present for our hearts and our walk with Jesus.

2. How do you maintain the balance between greed and giving it all away? In other words, between hoarding for self, and taking a vow of poverty?