The question of “Why?”—why suffering, why injustice, why do bad things happen to good people—sits at the heart of faith. This is not a question that can be answered once and for all, but one that recurs throughout our lives, especially in moments of pain or confusion. Often, disappointment with God arises from our assumptions about who God is and how God should act. We tend to imagine God in our own image, expecting God to operate on our timeline and according to our preferences. Yet, the God revealed in Scripture is not a projection of our desires, but the Creator who made us with the extraordinary gift of choice, not as robots, but as beings capable of real relationship, love, and sacrifice.
Choice is both beautiful and problematic. It is the foundation of love, friendship, kindness, and justice—none of which can exist without the freedom to choose. The things that matter most in life—relationships, care, service—are not measurable by data, but are deeply true and powerful because they are chosen. Yet, this freedom also means that suffering and injustice are possible. Even as we wrestle with the tension between God’s goodness and the reality of a broken world, we are reminded that God’s ways surpass our understanding. Scripture, especially passages like Isaiah 55, calls us to humility, to recognize that God’s plans are higher than ours.
Trusting God’s character becomes essential. Just as we trust those whose character we know, so too are we invited to know God deeply—through Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason—so that even when we do not understand, we can trust. The stories of faithful people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., C.S. Lewis, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer show us that faith does not shield us from suffering, but gives us hope and purpose in the midst of it. They remind us that disappointment and questioning are not signs of weak faith, but opportunities to deepen our relationship with God and to become agents of hope and justice.
God does not promise a life free from suffering, but promises to be present with us in the midst of it, working for good even when all things are not good. We are called not to be bystanders, but to join God in the work of redemption, to be honest in our questions, and to act with courage and compassion. In the end, our disappointment often reveals that our understanding of God is too small. We are invited to stand in awe of the God who is with us, who calls us forward with redemptive hope, and who invites us to the table of grace, forgiveness, and new life.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Disappointment with God often stems from our assumptions about who God should be and how God should act. When our expectations are shaped more by our desires or cultural images than by the God revealed in Scripture, we set ourselves up for frustration. True faith requires us to continually examine and expand our understanding of God beyond our own image. [14:18]
- 2. The gift of choice is central to what it means to be human and to love. God does not force relationship, love, or justice upon us; instead, we are given the freedom to choose, which makes love and sacrifice meaningful. This freedom, however, also opens the door to suffering and injustice, making the world both beautiful and broken. [18:16]
- 3. God’s ways and understanding are far beyond our own, and faith involves learning to trust God’s character even when we cannot see the whole picture. Like trusting a loved one whose character we know, we are called to trust God’s goodness and faithfulness, especially in times of confusion or pain. This trust is built through relationship, not through having all the answers. [21:14]
- 4. The presence of suffering and injustice in the world is not a denial of God’s goodness, but a call to action and hope. Figures like Dr. King, C.S. Lewis, and Bonhoeffer show that faith is not about escaping pain, but about holding on to hope and working for justice even in the midst of disappointment. We are called to be agents of redemption, not passive observers. [31:49]
- 5. Honest questioning and lament are not signs of weak faith, but of authentic relationship with God. Like Habakkuk, we are invited to bring our complaints and confusion to God, to write the vision, and to get to work. Our disappointment often reveals the smallness of our vision, and God invites us to join in the ongoing work of redemption, trusting that God is present and at work even when we do not understand. [46:27]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introducing the “Why” Series and Theodicy
- [03:10] - Our Assumptions About God
- [07:30] - The Gift and Challenge of Human Choice
- [14:18] - Disappointment and Our Expectations of God
- [16:08] - Created for Relationship: The Power of Choice
- [18:16] - Why Choice Makes Love and Justice Possible
- [21:14] - God’s Ways Surpass Our Understanding
- [23:50] - Trusting God’s Character
- [27:12] - Faith, Questions, and Redemptive Hope
- [29:30] - God’s Presence in Suffering
- [31:49] - Learning from Dr. King, C.S. Lewis, and Bonhoeffer
- [39:52] - The Church’s Call to Authentic Community
- [42:50] - Habakkuk: Honest Questions and Lament
- [46:27] - God’s Response: Vision, Action, and Hope
- [48:53] - Communion Invitation and Prayer
- [53:35] - Announcements and Community Life
- [62:37] - Closing Blessing and Sending Forth
