Embracing God's Grace: Trusting in Silence and Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: God Hears, Cares, and Answers Our Prayers

Even when God seems silent, He hears every prayer, cares deeply for us, and answers in His perfect way and timing. Sometimes His response is not what we expect—whether it is “no,” “not yet,” or a deeper invitation to trust—but He is always present and working for our good. In moments of distress or longing, we are called to trust that our prayers ascend unerringly to God’s presence, and that His love and wisdom are at work even in the silence. [53:34]

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Reflection: When have you felt God was silent in response to your prayers? How might you look for His presence and care even when you do not receive the answer you hoped for?

Day 2: God’s Grace Is Sufficient, Even When He Says “No”

God sometimes answers our prayers with a “no,” not out of neglect, but because His grace is sufficient for us and His purposes are higher than our understanding. Like Jesus in Gethsemane and Paul with his thorn, we are invited to pray, “Not my will, but yours be done,” trusting that God’s refusal is often accompanied by His sustaining presence and strength. In these moments, we are called to rely on His grace and trust that He knows what is best for us. [44:52]

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV)
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Reflection: Is there a prayer in your life that God has answered with “no”? How can you lean into His grace and trust His wisdom in that area today?

Day 3: Waiting on God Grows Our Souls

God’s answer to our prayers is sometimes “not yet,” and in the waiting, He enlarges our souls and deepens our trust. Waiting is not wasted time; it is a season where God shapes us, teaches us patience, and prepares us for what is to come. Like a mother waiting for her child to be born, we are invited to be still, to trust God’s timing, and to let our hope and faith grow as we wait for His answer. [47:46]

Romans 8:24-25 (ESV)
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are waiting for God’s answer? How can you practice patience and trust in His timing this week?

Day 4: God’s Presence in Our Brokenness

God does not always remove our suffering or struggles, but He is present with us in the midst of them, offering forgiveness, healing, and steadfast love. The psalmist reminds us that God redeems our lives from the pit and crowns us with mercy, even when we are still facing iniquities, diseases, or grief. In our brokenness, God’s presence is deeper than words, inviting us to recognize our need and receive His profound grace. [49:43]

Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV)
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God’s presence during times of struggle or pain? How can you open your heart to His steadfast love today?

Day 5: Trusting God’s Faithfulness in All Things

We are called to trust God’s faithfulness, knowing that He is always at work for our good, even when His ways are mysterious or hidden from us. Our journey of faith is not about having all the answers, but about learning to trust, give thanks, and walk in the assurance that we are part of God’s unshakable kingdom. As we gather in worship, prayer, and the sacraments, we are reminded that God’s promises are sure and His love endures forever. [58:19]

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
for our God is a consuming fire.

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to express your trust in God’s faithfulness, even when you do not understand His ways?

Sermon Summary

Today we gathered in the joy of worship, welcoming guests and especially celebrating the baptism of young Hannah Amelia. Baptism is a profound gift, not only because Jesus commands it, but because through it, God washes us clean, forgives our sins, and unites us with Christ in his death and resurrection. As a community, we are entrusted with nurturing the faith of the newly baptized, praying for them, teaching them, and setting an example of Christian living. We are reminded that through baptism, we are all made members of God’s family, called to support and encourage one another in faith.

Our readings today, especially from Psalm 103 and Luke 13, point us to the steadfast love and mercy of God. We see Jesus healing a woman who had suffered for eighteen years, a beautiful fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem and restore. Yet, this story also raises a difficult question: what about the times when God seems silent, when our prayers for healing or help go unanswered? Many of us have experienced this silence, and it can be deeply painful, leading us to wonder if we are at fault or if God is distant.

But God’s ways are not always as we expect. Sometimes his answer is “no,” as it was for Jesus in Gethsemane and for Paul with his thorn in the flesh. Other times, God’s answer is “not yet,” calling us to patience and trust as we wait for his timing. And sometimes, what feels like silence is actually a deeper invitation—to reflect, to grow, and to recognize God’s presence even in our suffering. The psalmist reminds us that God’s blessings often come in response to our deepest needs, not by removing all hardship, but by being present with us in the midst of them.

We are called to trust that God hears, cares, and answers, even when his response is not what we hoped for or when it comes in ways we do not immediately recognize. Our prayers, whether spoken, written, or silent, always reach God. In the mystery of his wisdom, he is shaping us, enlarging us in the waiting, and drawing us closer to himself. As we receive the sacraments and gather in worship, we are reminded that we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken, upheld by the grace and faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Baptism is not just a ritual but a profound act of God’s grace, where we are washed, forgiven, and made part of Christ’s body. It is both a gift and a calling, inviting us to live out our faith in community, supporting one another and especially nurturing the faith of the young and newly baptized. This is a lifelong journey of remembering our identity as God’s beloved children. [07:59]
2. God’s silence in response to our prayers is not necessarily absence or indifference. Sometimes, his answer is “no,” as it was for Jesus and Paul, but even then, God’s grace is present and sufficient. The challenge is to trust that God’s wisdom and love are at work, even when his answer is not what we desire. [44:52]
3. Waiting on God is a spiritual discipline that enlarges our souls. When God’s answer is “not yet,” we are invited to patience and humility, learning to trust his timing rather than our own. In the waiting, God is often preparing us for deeper growth and understanding, shaping us in ways we may not immediately see. [47:46]
4. God’s presence is often most profound in our suffering and need, even when he does not immediately remove our hardships. The psalmist and the story of the bent woman remind us that God redeems, heals, and crowns us with steadfast love, sometimes after long seasons of pain. His presence in our trials is a deeper answer than mere relief. [49:43]
5. Silence can be a space for spiritual reflection and growth, rather than a void. Like a wise teacher, God sometimes allows us to sit with our questions and struggles, prompting us to listen for his still, small voice. In these silent spaces, we are invited to deeper trust, self-examination, and openness to the transforming work of the Spirit. [51:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introduction and Opening Song
[03:00] - Baptism of Hannah Amelia
[07:59] - Charge to Parents and Sponsors
[09:58] - Marking with the Cross and Prayers
[11:04] - The Lord’s Prayer
[13:04] - Baptism at the Font
[14:12] - Presentation of Certificate and Gifts
[15:57] - Welcoming Hannah into the Church
[16:41] - Confession and Absolution
[25:39] - Gospel Reading: Healing on the Sabbath
[38:04] - Wrestling with God’s Silence
[44:52] - When God’s Answer is “No”
[47:46] - The Discipline of Waiting
[49:43] - God’s Presence in Suffering
[51:02] - The Power of Silence
[58:19] - Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
[67:20] - Holy Communion
[84:24] - Closing Blessing and Song

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV) — > Bless the Lord, O my soul,
> and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
> Bless the Lord, O my soul,
> and forget not all his benefits,
> who forgives all your iniquity,
> who heals all your diseases,
> who redeems your life from the pit,
> who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
> who satisfies you with good
> so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Luke 13:10-17 (ESV) — > Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

Isaiah 58:9a (ESV) — > Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
> you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

Observation Questions

In Psalm 103, what are some of the specific ways God shows his love and mercy to his people? (forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies)
In the story from Luke 13, how long had the woman suffered before Jesus healed her? What was the reaction of the synagogue leader and the crowd?
According to Isaiah 58:9a, what does God promise to do when his people call out to him?
The sermon described baptism as more than a ritual. What are some of the gifts and responsibilities that come with baptism, according to the message? [07:59]

Interpretation Questions

The woman in Luke 13 was healed after 18 years of suffering. What might this long wait teach us about God’s timing and the way he answers prayers? [49:43]
The sermon mentioned that sometimes God’s answer to prayer is “no” or “not yet.” How does this challenge our expectations of how God should respond? [44:52]
The psalmist says God “crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” What does it mean to be “crowned” in this way, especially during times of hardship? [49:43]
The message talked about God’s silence as a space for reflection and growth. How might silence from God actually be an invitation to deeper trust or self-examination? [51:02]

Application Questions

The sermon said that baptism is both a gift and a calling. If you are baptized, how do you remember your baptism in daily life? What is one way you can support someone who is newly baptized or young in faith this week? [07:59]
Have you ever experienced a time when you prayed and felt like God was silent? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [42:03]
When God’s answer to your prayer is “no” or “not yet,” what helps you to keep trusting him? Is there a current situation where you need to practice patience or surrender your own timetable? [47:46]
The sermon said that God’s presence is often most profound in our suffering, even if he doesn’t remove the hardship right away. Can you think of a time when you sensed God’s presence during a difficult season? How did that change your perspective? [49:43]
Silence can be uncomfortable, but it can also be powerful. Is there a way you can make space for silence in your prayer life this week? What might you hope to hear or notice in that silence? [51:02]
The message encouraged us to support and encourage one another in faith, especially those who are struggling. Who in your life might need encouragement or prayer right now? How can you reach out to them this week? [15:57]
The sermon reminded us that we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. When life feels uncertain, what practices or reminders help you hold onto this truth? [53:34]

Sermon Clips

The first way, the most obvious way, is that God's answer might in fact be no. So for example when Jesus himself called out to God in the garden of Gethsemane to take away the cup of his suffering, the answer was clearly a no. For the greater good was that he was to suffer and die for the sins of the world. However, we have this lovely conclusion to his prayer that's always important to keep into account. Not my will but yours be done. [00:44:13] (45 seconds) #PatienceInDelay

What adds to the difficulty of not now is that we're so used to instant gratification. We can't imagine a life without ATMs and FPOS and email and instant messages. We're used to getting what we want when we want it, which makes not yet, or we'll see, only slightly easier than no. But God's delay, much less his silence, should not be confused with denial. He always has reasons for saying, not now. [00:46:58] (36 seconds) #TrustInGodsAnswer

And we have to learn the hard lesson of greeting such delays with humility, trust, and above all, patience. The willingness to wait in prayer and let God's timetable unfold is behind Paul's words in Romans 8. Waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. [00:47:34] (32 seconds)

God's delay in answering may have less to do with the timing of events than the timing of our own soul's need and growth. So we must learn to be still and wait. [00:48:28] (16 seconds)

So God doesn't necessarily take away these things. But he is present in them, though it may not always seem like it at the time, for his presence is deeper even than words. Perhaps it's not silence we're encountering when we seek God, but rather a pregnant pause, a prompting to engage in personal reflection, so that we recognize our own brokenness, our own need, so that the deepest answers, the most profound responses can actually be received. [00:50:03] (45 seconds)

Most of us really don't appreciate the power of silence. Some of the most effective communication between student and teacher, between master players, takes place during the silent periods. Unquote. And that, dear friends, is why we are here. We are here to be silent and to listen again to that still, small voice that speaks into the silence of God. [00:51:28] (38 seconds)

We are here to trust his answer, whether it be no, or not yet, or deep calling unto deep. As St. Paul had learned through his thorn in the flesh, so we are being trained to let God's grace be sufficient for us as well. But remember this, dear friends. When you pray, God hears, God hears, God cares, and God answers. [00:52:06] (35 seconds)

When you pray, whether it's from the heart, whether it's a spoken prayer, a written prayer, whether it's a prayer in the liturgy, your prayers ascend unerringly to God's presence. Trust him. Trust him. Trust him and give thanks, as we heard in today's second reading from the book of Hebrews. [00:52:41] (29 seconds)

That's why you come. That's why we pray. God hears. God cares. God answers. In the light of that, I can only wonder what his silence continues to hold for me. [00:53:40] (18 seconds)

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