Purpose: To explore how prayer works when we experience pain and suffering.
Activity: I often use this icebreaker at the very first meeting of a new small group, when we are all a little new to one another. I start by saying that we are going to do a quick exercise to teach us about prayer.
First, get a bowl of ice cubes and give one cube to each person. Say that we are each to hold the ice cube in one hand and pray that God will relieve the pain that follows. Then just have everyone sit—it doesn't take a minute. Some will be howling after 30 seconds.
When I've used this activity, someone has always asked, "Isn't this testing God?"
"It is," I say.
"I thought we weren't supposed to do that."
"We're not," I say. "But might there be an alternative we're overlooking here?"
Hopefully you'll have at least one bright person who calls out something like, "We need to give God the ice cube!" And the lesson has its voice. Such a phrase is great because it also serves as a powerful reference for the group in the coming weeks as you learn to "give God the ice cube" of our troubles and concerns.
If none of your group members gets the point, then just wait until one of them drops the ice cube on their own, unable to stand the cold any longer. This is a great illustration of our inability to carry the pain and troubles of life on our own, and the need we have to "give God the ice cube" when things get overwhelming.
