Seeing God Anew: Trusting Through Life's Challenges

This morning, we gathered as a church family to celebrate, encourage, and prepare for the season ahead. As we look forward to the start of a new school year, we took time to recognize our students, teachers, and staff, praying over them and commissioning them as missionaries in their schools. We remembered that our presence, prayers, and support can make a real difference in the lives of children and educators, especially as they face challenges and opportunities in the coming months.

We also reflected on the importance of seeing and being seen—by God and by one another. Drawing from the final chapter of Job, we considered how our perceptions of God and ourselves are often limited or shaped by our pain, circumstances, or misunderstandings. Job’s journey reminds us that God is far bigger than we can comprehend, and that our understanding of Him must grow and change as we walk through life. Sometimes, we need to let go of old perceptions and allow God to reveal Himself anew, especially in seasons of suffering or confusion.

We explored the idea that our self-image is often inaccurate—sometimes we think too highly of ourselves, other times too low. Scripture calls us to a sober-minded view, recognizing both our capacity for good and our tendency to get things wrong. In the story of Job, and in our own stories, we are invited to humility: to admit when we don’t know, to change our minds when we learn, and to trust God with the things we cannot understand.

God’s presence is the true answer to our deepest questions and pains. Like Job, and like Hagar in the wilderness, we find healing not always in explanations, but in the assurance that God sees us, knows us, and is with us. Our stories are not finished yet—God is still at work, inviting us to trust Him, to move forward, and to be a healing presence in the world. We are allowed to grow, to change, and to find hope in the God who is always bigger than our circumstances.

Key Takeaways

• 1. How We See God Shapes Everything The way we view God is not a one-time decision but a question we must revisit regularly. Our understanding of God’s character and personality grows as we experience life, especially through suffering and joy. Sometimes, we need to let go of old perceptions and allow God to reveal Himself in new ways, trusting that He is always bigger than our understanding. [61:46]
• 2. A Sober-Minded View of Ourselves Scripture calls us to see ourselves accurately—not with pride or self-loathing, but with humility. We are capable of both great good and great folly, and our self-image should be shaped by God’s truth, not just our feelings or the opinions of others. True wisdom comes when we let the Bible inform our view of ourselves and our place in the world. [63:29]
• 3. Perception Is Not Always Reality Our pain and circumstances can distort how we see God, others, and ourselves. It’s easy to mistake our perception for truth, but real growth happens when we’re willing to question our assumptions and let God correct our vision. Healing often begins when we allow our understanding to change and admit we don’t know everything. [73:18]
• 4. God’s Presence Is the Answer, Not Always an Explanation Job never received all the answers to his questions, but he found peace in the presence of God. Like Hagar, who called God “the God who sees me,” we are invited to trust that God’s nearness is enough, even when explanations are lacking. The assurance that God sees, knows, and cares for us brings healing and courage to move forward. [84:12]
• 5. Our Stories Are Not Finished Yet No matter where we are in our journey—whether in pain, confusion, or hope—God is still writing our story. We are allowed to change, to grow, and to move beyond the places where we feel stuck. Trusting God with our unfinished stories opens us to new possibilities and reminds us that He can be trusted with both our past and our future. [81:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [16:52] - Announcements and Community Updates
• [19:39] - Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
• [22:40] - Community Partnerships and School Support
• [24:40] - Teacher Breakfast and Youth Group Info
• [26:25] - Youth Activities and Permission Slips
• [27:03] - Beginning Worship: Crown Him with Many Crowns
• [40:58] - Commissioning Students and School Staff
• [42:50] - Prayer for Students and Educators
• [45:32] - Prayer Requests and Community Needs
• [49:20] - Sharing Concerns and Updates
• [52:37] - Praying for the Hurting and the World
• [59:30] - Transition to the Word: Book of Job
• [61:46] - How Do You See God?
• [67:38] - Lessons from Job’s Response
• [73:18] - Perception vs. Reality
• [74:48] - The Bigness of God
• [76:26] - Humility and the Context of Our Pain
• [79:59] - Repentance: Changing Our Minds
• [81:18] - Our Stories Are Not Finished
• [84:12] - The God Who Sees Us
• [85:09] - Trusting God with Our Pain
• [87:01] - Invitation to Trust and Grow
• [87:39] - Closing Hymn and Anointing
• [91:13] - Sending and Benediction

Bible Reading

Job 42:1-6 (ESV) — > Then Job answered the Lord and said:
> “I know that you can do all things,
> and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
> ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
> Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
> things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
> ‘Hear, and I will speak;
> I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
> I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
> but now my eye sees you;
> therefore I despise myself,
> and repent in dust and ashes.”

Genesis 16:13 (ESV) — > So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) — > For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
> neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
> For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
> so are my ways higher than your ways
> and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Observation Questions

1. In Job 42:1-6, what does Job admit about his previous understanding of God? What does he say has changed for him?
2. According to Genesis 16:13, what name does Hagar give to God, and what does it reveal about her experience?
3. In the sermon, what does the pastor say about how our pain and circumstances can affect the way we see God and ourselves? ([01:13:18])
4. What does Isaiah 55:8-9 say about the difference between God’s ways and our ways?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why is it significant that Job says, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you”? What does this shift mean for his relationship with God?
2. The pastor mentions that our self-image can be either too high or too low. How does Scripture call us to see ourselves, and why is this important? ([01:03:29])
3. How does the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 connect to the idea that God’s presence is the answer, not always an explanation? ([01:24:12])
4. The sermon says, “Our stories are not finished yet.” What does it mean to trust God with our unfinished stories, especially in times of pain or confusion? ([01:21:18])

Application Questions

1. The way we see God shapes everything. Is there an area of your life where you realize your view of God might be too small or shaped by past pain? What would it look like to let God reveal Himself to you in a new way this season? ([01:01:46])
2. Think about your self-image. Do you tend to think too highly or too lowly of yourself? What is one practical step you can take this week to see yourself more accurately, as God sees you? ([01:03:29])
3. The pastor said our pain and circumstances can distort our perception of God, others, and ourselves. Can you think of a recent time when your feelings or situation made it hard to see the truth? How might you invite God to correct your vision? ([01:13:18])
4. Job never got all the answers, but he found peace in God’s presence. Is there a situation in your life where you are waiting for answers? How can you practice trusting God’s nearness instead of demanding explanations? ([01:24:12])
5. The sermon talked about being a healing presence in the world, especially in schools and our community. Who is one person you can encourage or support this week, especially as a new school year begins? ([40:58])
6. The pastor said, “You are allowed to grow, to change, and to find hope in the God who is always bigger than our circumstances.” Is there an area where you need to give yourself permission to grow or change? What is one step you can take? ([01:27:01])
7. When was the last time you let go of an old perception about God or yourself? What helped you make that change, and how did it affect your faith? ([01:19:59])