God's Presence in Suffering: A Call to Action

The heart of today’s gathering is the assurance that God is a good Father, whose love and presence remain constant even in the midst of suffering and unanswered questions. We all wrestle with the “why” questions—why does God allow suffering, why do bad things happen, why does evil persist? These are not just abstract theological puzzles, but deeply personal struggles that touch every life. The ancient field of theodicy—wrestling with the justice of God—reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers, but about holding onto God’s goodness and presence even when life doesn’t make sense.

Scripture does not promise us a life free from pain, but it does promise that God is with us in our suffering, working for good in all things. From the very beginning, God created humanity in His image and entrusted us with stewardship—not domination—over creation and one another. This means we are called to be active participants in God’s work of love, justice, and mercy in the world. Our questions about suffering are not just invitations to seek understanding, but calls to action: to be the hands and feet of Christ, to embody God’s care and compassion in tangible ways.

As a church, we are responding to this call by dreaming boldly about how our resources—our land, our building, our presence—can serve our neighbors. Through listening to our community, we have discerned urgent needs: affordable housing, accessible spaces, and support for those who serve and care for others. Our vision is to create a space that is not just for worship, but for radical welcome, inclusivity, and service—a community center that reflects God’s heart for all people.

We cannot solve every problem or answer every “why,” but we can be part of God’s redemptive work here and now. By stepping out in faith, praying, listening, and acting, we become a visible witness of God’s justice and mercy. As we come to the communion table, we remember that Jesus meets us in our questions and our brokenness, offering grace and hope for the journey ahead. Let us continue to ask, to act, and to love—trusting that God is with us, and that together, we can make a difference.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Goodness Amid Suffering God’s character is not defined by the absence of suffering, but by His steadfast presence with us in the midst of it. The promise of scripture is not that all things are good, but that God works for good in all things, walking with us through every trial and heartbreak. Our faith is anchored not in easy answers, but in the assurance that God is Emmanuel—God with us—even when life is confusing or painful. [20:22]
• 2. The Call to Stewardship, Not Domination Being made in God’s image means we are entrusted with stewardship over creation and each other, not a license for exploitation or privilege. Dominion, in its biblical sense, is about responsibility, partnership, and representing God’s care and justice in the world. Our calling is to reflect God’s love, mercy, and generosity, becoming caretakers of both the earth and our neighbors. [23:32]
• 3. Theodicy as a Call to Action Wrestling with the “why” of suffering is not just an intellectual exercise, but a summons to participate in God’s work. Instead of passively questioning why God isn’t doing something, we recognize that we are the body of Christ—called to be part of the solution, to act with compassion, and to address real needs in our community. Our questions become catalysts for mercy, justice, and tangible love. [25:30]
• 4. Listening and Responding to Community Needs True stewardship involves listening deeply to the needs of our neighbors and responding with creativity and courage. By engaging with community leaders, neighbors, and one another, we discern where our resources and calling intersect with the world’s pain. This process leads us to bold visions—like creating affordable housing and accessible spaces—that embody God’s love in practical ways. [29:17]
• 5. Communion: Meeting God in Our Questions The table of communion is a place where our deepest questions and wounds are met by the grace of Christ. Here, we remember that Jesus offers Himself fully to us, inviting us to taste, see, and understand—even when we don’t have all the answers. Communion nourishes us for the journey, reminding us that we are one with God, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until the day when all things are made new. [47:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [05:40] - God’s Goodness and Our Identity
• [08:48] - God’s Faithfulness in Suffering
• [10:42] - Prayer and New Beginnings
• [12:32] - Introducing the “Why?” Series and Theodicy
• [15:06] - The Big Questions: Suffering and God’s Character
• [17:41] - Theodicy: Justice, Suffering, and Easy Answers
• [20:22] - God’s Presence in Suffering
• [21:40] - Created in God’s Image: Dominion and Stewardship
• [24:14] - Our Role in God’s Work
• [26:09] - Responding to Suffering with Action
• [28:38] - Dreaming Boldly: Church Vision and Community Needs
• [32:59] - The Crisis of Affordable Housing
• [36:44] - God at Work: The Story of Our Church’s Vision
• [39:54] - How to Get Involved and Next Steps
• [41:47] - The Vision for a New Space
• [43:41] - The Call to Mercy and Action
• [46:47] - Communion: Meeting God in Our Questions
• [49:12] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:27-31 (ESV) — > So God created man in his own image,
> in the image of God he created him;
> male and female he created them.
> And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
> And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
> And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
> And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — > And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 1:27-31, what specific responsibilities does God give to humanity regarding creation?
2. According to Romans 8:28, what is God’s promise to those who love Him, and how does this relate to the idea that not all things are good in themselves?
3. The sermon described “dominion” as stewardship, not domination. What examples did the pastor give of what stewardship looks like in our context? [[23:32]]
4. What are some of the urgent needs in our community that the church has identified through listening and discernment? [[29:17]]

Interpretation Questions

1. What does it mean to be made in the image of God, especially in terms of how we treat creation and each other? How does this challenge common ideas about “dominion”? [[23:32]]
2. The sermon said that faith is not about having all the answers, but about holding onto God’s goodness and presence even when life doesn’t make sense. How might this perspective change the way someone responds to suffering? [[20:22]]
3. The pastor described theodicy (wrestling with the “why” of suffering) as a call to action, not just an intellectual exercise. What does it look like for our questions to become catalysts for mercy and justice? [[25:30]]
4. How does the practice of communion help us meet God in our questions and brokenness, according to the sermon? [[47:22]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to move beyond asking “why” to asking “how can I be part of God’s work?” Think of a recent situation of suffering or injustice you’ve noticed. What is one small, concrete step you could take to be part of God’s redemptive work in that situation? [[26:09]]
2. The church has discerned needs like affordable housing and accessible spaces. What resources—time, skills, relationships, or material things—do you have that could be used to help meet these needs? [[29:17]]
3. The pastor said that stewardship means responsibility, partnership, and representing God’s care and justice. Is there an area of your life where you tend to act more like an owner than a steward? What would it look like to shift your mindset? [[23:32]]
4. When you face suffering or unanswered questions, do you tend to look for easy answers, withdraw, or seek God’s presence? How could you practice holding onto God’s goodness even when life doesn’t make sense? [[20:22]]
5. The sermon described the church as a movement of people, not just a building. How can you personally contribute to making our church a place of radical welcome, inclusivity, and service? [[28:38]]
6. Communion was described as a place where Jesus meets us in our questions and brokenness. The next time you come to the communion table, what question or hurt do you want to bring honestly before God? [[47:22]]
7. The pastor encouraged everyone to get informed, pray, and get involved in the church’s vision. What is one practical way you can take a next step—whether it’s learning more, praying specifically, or volunteering—in the coming month? [[41:08]]