Where do you turn when you're troubled? Do money, success, popularity, or other factors serve as substitutes for God?

For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned incense in it to gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.

~Jeremiah 19:4

Lately, I have been turning to God for my troubles.  There no material things that can make your troubles better.

Have you ever fought with God? What issues were you fighting about?

“If a man divorces his wife
    and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
    Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
    would you now return to me?”
declares the Lord.

~Jeremiah 3:1

There's no doubt in my mind that I have fought with God.  One thing that I've possibly fought with God about is someone that might be the right one to be with in a relationship.  When I feel something about them, I've wanted to ask God, "If the situation is not meant to be, then please, take these feelings away so that I don't fall brokenhearted!"  Overtime, I've been persistent about this request, but really, I think God is really telling me "No," and "you must hold on to those thoughts and feelings."  This, in result, has shown me that I must trust in His guidance.

What would you most like to see changed about your world? Does Isaiah speak to that change?

“See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.

~Isaiah 65:17

I would say that Isaiah does speak of the changes I wish to see in this world.

If you had been a Jew in Jesus' day, would you have been disappointed in the Messiah? Why did Jesus choose to come as a suffering servant rather than, say, a triumphant army general?

He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

~Isaiah 53:3

I don't think I would be disappointed; I believe Christ came to us in the form he did to show that it is better to be humble than to be full of pride, like an army general might be.

Do you think God is using powerful leaders today to accomplish his will? How?

There are powerful leaders that are appointed to their positions, but not all of them have been following God's will.

Try to put yourself in the circumstances of the Jews back then. Would you have found the prophet's words comforting?

but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:31

I believe that I would felt comforted by these words.

In your life, what experience has called for the most courage and faith? How did you respond at the time?

“Assyria will fall by no human sword;
    a sword, not of mortals, will devour them.
They will flee before the sword
    and their young men will be put to forced labor.

~Isaiah 31:8

A time when you are awaiting to have your first surgery, and the way I respond to that is by praying to God for strength and trust in those that will be attending to my care.