Trusting God Amidst Pain and Uncertainty

Summary

Exodus chapter 2 reveals the tension between God’s promises and the painful realities of life. The Israelites, though chosen and promised a future, find themselves in the grip of oppression and suffering. Yet, even in the midst of pain, God is at work—often in ways that are hidden from our immediate view. The story of Moses’ birth and early life is a powerful reminder that God’s plans are unfolding, even when circumstances seem bleak or confusing.

Moses’ parents act in faith, doing all they can to protect their son, but ultimately must entrust him to God’s care. The basket on the Nile becomes a symbol of both human effort and divine protection. Trusting God does not mean passivity; it means doing our part and then surrendering the outcome to Him, even when it feels like He is silent or distant. The waiting seasons—when we have done all we can and must simply watch and hope—are some of the hardest, but they are also the places where God’s faithfulness is most deeply forged in us.

Moses’ story also confronts the shame and regret that can come from our failures. Even after Moses commits murder and flees into the desert, God is not finished with him. The desert, often seen as a place of punishment or exile, becomes God’s training ground, preparing Moses for the calling ahead. Our past mistakes, no matter how severe, do not disqualify us from God’s purposes. Instead, God meets us in our brokenness, not to scold or shame us, but to embrace us, heal us, and restore us.

The cries of the Israelites in their suffering rise up to God, and He responds—not because He has forgotten, but because the time has come for Him to act. God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels unbearably slow. In the midst of devastation, when all we can see is pain, God is still moving, still remembering His promises, and still working for our good. He invites us to bring our pain, our shame, and our longing to Him, trusting that He is near to the brokenhearted and able to put the pieces of our lives back together.

Key Takeaways

- The spotlight of our lives should shine on God, not ourselves. In a world obsessed with recognition and self-promotion, it’s easy to seek the spotlight for our own achievements. Yet, God often works most powerfully through those who are content to remain in the shadows, allowing His glory to be seen. True significance comes not from being noticed, but from making God known. [07:12]

- Trusting God means doing our part and then surrendering the outcome, even when it hurts. Moses’ family did everything they could to protect him, but ultimately had to let go and trust God with what they could not control. Faith is not passive; it is active obedience followed by surrender, especially when God’s ways are mysterious or painful. [12:07]

- Our failures and shame do not disqualify us from God’s calling. Moses’ act of violence and subsequent flight into the desert could have been the end of his story, but God uses even our brokenness as part of His redemptive plan. The desert seasons—though long and difficult—are often where God shapes us most deeply for His purposes. [17:17]

- God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels unbearably slow. The Israelites endured years of suffering, and Moses spent decades in obscurity, but God was not absent or forgetful. When God “remembers,” it is not because He has forgotten, but because He chooses the right moment to act for our good and His glory. [24:55]

- In our deepest pain, God draws near—not to scold, but to comfort and restore. Like a loving father who kneels beside his hurting child, God meets us in our brokenness with compassion. He does not minimize our pain or ignore our failures, but gently begins the work of healing and restoration, inviting us to trust Him with the shattered pieces of our lives. [32:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:51] - Introduction and March Madness Bracket
[01:27] - Recap of Exodus and God’s Promises
[02:41] - Questioning God in Difficult Seasons
[03:54] - Stories of Disappointment and Trust
[05:11] - God’s Presence in Pain and Progress
[05:51] - Moses’ Birth and the Hiddenness of Names
[07:12] - Whose Story Gets the Spotlight?
[09:42] - Moses’ Mother’s Courage and the Waiting Season
[11:32] - The Significance of the Basket and Trusting God
[13:19] - Trusting God When It Doesn’t Make Sense
[14:36] - Moses’ Actions and Consequences
[16:38] - Shame, Failure, and God’s Calling
[19:08] - The Armor of God and Taking a Stand
[21:05] - The Desert as God’s Training Ground
[22:23] - Israel’s Cry and God’s Response
[24:55] - God’s Timing and Remembering His Covenant
[26:48] - Pain, Devastation, and God’s Ultimate Plan
[29:53] - God’s Nearness to the Brokenhearted
[32:23] - The Father’s Compassion and Restoration
[34:29] - Responding to God’s Call and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Exodus 2 – God’s Faithfulness in the Shadows

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### Bible Reading

- Exodus 2:1-25 (The birth and early life of Moses, his flight to Midian, and God hearing the cries of Israel)
- Proverbs 16:2 (“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”) [07:50]
- Psalm 34:18 (“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”) [29:53]

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### Observation Questions

1. In Exodus 2:1-10, what actions did Moses’ parents take to protect him, and what risks were involved? How does the text describe their faith and the outcome? [05:11]
2. According to Exodus 2:11-15, what did Moses do when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and what were the consequences of his actions? [14:36]
3. In Exodus 2:23-25, what does the passage say about God’s response to the Israelites’ suffering? What words or phrases show God’s awareness and concern? [22:23]
4. How does Proverbs 16:2 relate to the idea of “the spotlight” in our lives, as discussed in the sermon? [07:50]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. What does the story of Moses’ parents placing him in a basket teach about the balance between human effort and trusting God with outcomes? How might this challenge our own ideas of faith? [11:32]
2. The sermon mentioned that Moses’ act of violence did not disqualify him from God’s calling. What does this suggest about how God views our failures and past mistakes? [17:17]
3. When the Israelites cried out in their suffering, God “remembered” His covenant. What does it mean for God to “remember” in this context, and how is this different from human forgetfulness? [24:55]
4. The pastor shared that God is close to the brokenhearted and does not come to scold but to comfort and restore. How does this image of God compare to how people often expect God to respond to their pain or failure? [32:23]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to consider where the “spotlight” is shining in our lives. Are there areas where you are seeking recognition for yourself rather than pointing others to God? What would it look like to shift the spotlight onto God this week? [07:12]
2. Moses’ family did everything they could, then had to let go and trust God. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to do your part and then surrender the outcome to God? What is holding you back from letting go? [12:07]
3. The waiting season—when you’ve done all you can and must simply watch and hope—can be the hardest. Can you share about a time when you had to wait on God? How did that season shape your faith? [10:19]
4. The sermon said our failures and shame do not disqualify us from God’s calling. Is there a past mistake or area of shame that you feel is holding you back from serving God? What would it look like to bring that to God for healing? [17:17]
5. God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels unbearably slow. Is there something you have been praying for or longing for that seems delayed? How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in the waiting? [24:55]
6. The pastor described God as a loving Father who kneels beside us in our pain, not to scold but to comfort and restore. When you are hurting or feel broken, do you find it easy or hard to let God comfort you? What might help you open up to His healing presence? [32:23]
7. The sermon ended with a call to action: “That’s all I can stand, I can’t stand no more.” Is there an area in your life, family, or community where you sense God calling you to take a stand or step out in faith? What is one step you can take this week? [18:32]

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Devotional

Day 1: God’s Faithfulness in the Midst of Pain

Even when life feels overwhelming and circumstances seem hopeless, God is still at work behind the scenes, moving and making progress even when we cannot see it. The Israelites endured harsh slavery and unimaginable loss, yet God was attentive to their cries and remembered His covenant, choosing the perfect moment to intervene. In our own seasons of pain, it can be hard to believe that God is present, but His faithfulness is not dependent on our ability to see or understand His plan. He is always working for our good, even in the darkest valleys. [24:55]

Exodus 2:23-25 (ESV)
During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Reflection: When have you felt like God was silent or distant in your pain? Can you look back and see any ways He was working behind the scenes, even if you didn’t notice it at the time?

Day 2: The True Spotlight—God, Not Ourselves

In a world obsessed with recognition and self-promotion, it’s easy to want the spotlight on ourselves, but Scripture reminds us that God weighs our motives and desires the focus to be on Him. The story of Moses’ birth begins without names, emphasizing that the real hero is God, not the people involved. Our lives are meant to shine a light on God’s faithfulness and glory, not our own achievements or status. Let us examine our hearts and ask: who is truly getting the spotlight in our story? [07:50]

Proverbs 16:2 (ESV)
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to seek recognition or praise for yourself? How can you intentionally shift the spotlight to God this week?

Day 3: Trusting God Means Surrender, Not Control

Trusting God does not mean everything will go according to our plans or desires; it means surrendering our understanding and control, doing our part, and leaving the results in His hands. Like Moses’ mother, who did all she could to protect her son and then placed him in a basket on the Nile, we are called to act faithfully and then trust God with the outcome—even when it feels risky or uncertain. True trust is not passive, but it is also not controlling; it is a daily surrender to God’s wisdom and timing. [12:43]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one situation in your life right now where you need to surrender control and trust God with the outcome? What would it look like to do your part and then release it to Him?

Day 4: Your Past Does Not Disqualify You

No matter what mistakes, failures, or even sins are in your past, they do not disqualify you from being used by God. Moses committed murder, yet God still called and used him to deliver His people. There may be consequences for our actions, but God’s grace is greater than our shame, and He delights in restoring and repurposing broken lives for His glory. Don’t let shame or regret keep you from stepping into God’s calling—He is able to pick up the pieces and use you in powerful ways. [17:17]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Is there a past mistake or failure that you believe disqualifies you from serving God? What would it look like to bring that to Him and receive His forgiveness and restoration today?

Day 5: God Is Close to the Brokenhearted

When life shatters and you feel crushed in spirit, God does not stand at a distance or scold you for your pain—He draws near, wraps His arms around you, and begins the gentle work of healing and restoration. Like a loving father who kneels beside his hurting child, God is attentive to your cries and cares deeply about your brokenness. Even if the pieces of your life can never be put back exactly as they were, God’s presence and love are enough to carry you through and give you hope for the future. [29:53]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: If you are feeling broken or crushed today, can you allow yourself to experience God’s nearness and comfort? What would it look like to let Him begin picking up the pieces with you?

Quotes

Just because God has made a promise doesn't mean there won't be challenges and obstacles and I actually think uh because God has made a promise or because God has a calling on your life there will be challenges and there will be obstacles but I want to remind us let's not go through this story as Spectators uh let's look at it as participants let let's put ourselves in their shoes let's ask the Holy Spirit what can we learn H how can we grow how would we handle this situation because I I think like if I put myself in their shoes and what they're going through I would really question God do you know what you're doing. [00:02:11]

What we'll see in this chapter in the midst of the pain God is still moving in the midst of the pain there is progress that is being made and can I tell you it it's it's difficult for us to see sometimes when we're going through the storm that God is working that God is moving but we'll see that God is working and he is moving and there is some things shifting and happening so let's jump in into it. [00:05:04]

In a world where so many people are trying to get noticed where so many people are highlighting who they are what they're doing notice me influencer I'm this I'm that check out what I'm doing in your story is the spotlight being shined upon you or is it being shined upon God who who's the who's the spotlight where is the spotlight being shined and I know for uh we can look at people and we all just by an outsider looking in it all looks the same but can I tell you in Proverbs 16:2 it says all a man's way seem innocent to him but motives are weighed by the Lord that God knows even the motivation of your heart in my heart he he knows the depths he knows the why. [00:07:13]

The waiting and watching seasons of Life are not my favorite Seasons to be just patient and to see what God is doing I didn't say this first service but I like flush the toilet before I'm even done like I don't like waiting that's why I didn't say it in first service things are just popping into my head today but I don't like waiting can you can you imagine like all of the power in control is out of her hands and out of their hands now it's just it's I have to trust the Lord to see what he's going to do like and I I've done everything that I can and I I just put my hope and my trust in you. [00:10:31]

Trusting God means that uh we're going to do our best at every situation and Circumstance that we're going to we're going to do our part but I find the basket to be so significant because the basket is a covering and protection the basket it might be carried away by the streams and it might seem so insignificant but the basket is the very shield and protection of God and when we do our part and and we're covered by his word and his promises and his principles but then we just have to wait and we have to trust we put it into his hands and can I tell you you can trust the Lord. [00:11:32]

Trusting God doesn't mean everything will go the way that you and I hope trusting God actually means I'm going to surrender my own understanding of how I think things should be and I just trust that he knows what he's doing Joseph was given dreams of leadership but he was sold into slavery spent years in prison before he ever saw God's plan unfold I don't know about you but I'd be sitting there sold into slavery uh thrown into prison going back to the dream that God gave me and being like like do you even know what you're doing did you mess up did you have some bad food that day like you know like David was anointed king but spent years running for his life before he took the throne. [00:13:01]

There is consequences for our decisions so that that there is repercussions based on decisions we make but it does not disqualify you from being used by God your past sins and failures or your current sins and failures doesn't disqualify you your weaknesses and insecurities doesn't disqualify you uh Moses shouldn't have killed the guy but I just kind of read a story like that and I'm like at least he did something because how many people do nothing. [00:17:23]

I hope that something would rise up in us where our world especially in America Christianity where it's so halfhearted and and not on fire not hungry it's like no that's all I can stand I can't stands no more I will do whatever it takes if I got to go get firewood uh way out into the woods and bring it back to put on so I can be on fire or I'll get gasoline it doesn't even matter that's all I can stands that can't stands no more God I want to be so hungry and so passionate and so on fire for you it's all I can stands and I can't stand no more. [00:18:37]

The desert seasons are actually his training ground to prepare you for what he has in store you might not see it but he's using it as an opportunity to strength you prepare you develop you and get you ready for what he has in store and Moses left the palace he left being a somebody now out in the desert being a nobody and I really think God loves people who are not fighting to be a somebody but are okay being a nobody and God will make them somebody because again the the the spotlight is going to shine upon him. [00:21:19]

Heard means that he was deeply attentive to their pain and their distress and God heard their groaning and it says he remembered he remembered why because when God makes a promise he plans on fulfilling the promise and when it says that God remembered it doesn't mean God forgot and he's like oh what I totally forgot that I was gonna like you know I made a promise to Abraham I totally forgot like uh grab Three Angels bring them in here we're having a quick meeting hey guys I messed up I totally forgot that I made this promise and they're just in bitterness and slavery and all they're crying out to me and now like uh we got to like save face a little bit like I I got to start doing something you know it when it says that God remembered it's not I remembered because he forgot what he's actually saying is this God is choosing right now in this moment to intervene what he is saying is it's time to act. [00:23:35]

Let me tell you something about God's timing his timing is perfect he's never late and he's never early he's never late even though sometimes it feels like it you're like is your Apple watch not working up there like what's going on he's never early his timing is perfect I think back at my own story in those two two uh stories I mentioned I think of the youth pastor job I look back at it and I'm so thankful I didn't get that job because in the next three to five years that church will have shifted away from the denomination it was a part of and shifted away from really being a Spirit-filled church and I was like that wouldn't have been very well for us. [00:25:13]

In my young walk with God if there was a big check that would have came in it would have really created in me a posture or a heart that gives to get that I'm going to give and God's going to give back tfold watch this and what it really did is some gut-wrenching soul searching that says God you've done enough and I'm going to give to worship you and I'm going to be obedient to whenever you speak because I love you regardless if you give anything back can I tell you God is good and he is faithful. [00:26:11]

If you look at this story so at the end of chapter 1 the king gave an order that all newborn baby boys be thrown into the Nile and we are seeing one story of a calling that God had upon Moses that in the long run he's going to use him to deliver his people but just think of how many baby boys were thrown into the Nile how many official how many Egyptians who didn't want to uh you know uh get the king upset at them or anything like how many people just gave into the orders of the king and and how many baby boys were thrown into the Nile River and died like you just I I want you to think of the death and the devastation and the pain and the hurt and and it it's just a reminder to us that hey look there we live in a fallen world and there is wicked and evil things and it's sickness and it's pain and it's disease and there's death and there's all kinds of stuff like that but God has an ultimate plan and purpose and and there's things happening behind the scenes that nobody can see and there is progress happening that's one thing I just I I hope you get in your heart and and you understand you know trusting God doesn't mean it's all going to work out according to your plan but trusting God does mean hey there is something moving something happening some progress being made even when I don't see it amen. [00:27:06]

Can I tell you you can put yourself your life in the basket and you can trust the Lord he's there in the band you guys can go ahead and come on up he he's there in the midst of the pain Psalms 34:18 says this the Lord is close to the Brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit a a a broken heart and a contrite spirit God is yet to deny God is close to everyone but I love he's highlighting he's close to those who are brokenhearted it it speaks to his love and his um his grace and his Mercy to just put his arms around people who feel defeated. [00:29:35]

What I really felt like for today for some of us in this room you're just in pain the father's not walking in here to scold you he's not like hey you should do this better and you're not doing this and let me tell you there is consequences to your decisions the vase got smashed into a million pieces yes there are times where things just are broken and maybe we put ourselves into the situation not doing what God has said not doing what okay all of that but the father doesn't walk in today to scold you for your Disobedience he actually wants to put his arms around you because he knows how much you're hurting and you're struggling and lets you know hey son or daughter I love you so much hey we're going to pick the pieces back up I still have have a call on your life that sin that mistake that mess up it hasn't disqualified you. [00:32:17]

God's wanting to start putting the pieces back together because he does have a promise and he does have a call upon your life he wants to put the pieces back together and another group of us in this room I just pray As We Worship the Lord that maybe we've been sitting on the sidelines and I I just hope there's something that stirs up in us that's all I can stand I can't stand no more I am so tired of the enemy coming after our marriages after our families after our kids after our businesses after our life after I know I it's all I can stand I can't stand no more and I'm going to go do something about it. [00:34:03]

Chatbot

What does trusting God in pain require from believers

How does the story of Moses illustrate God's timing

In what ways does God restore broken lives and faith