Trusting God's Eternal Work Amidst Our Urgency
Summary
Today’s reflection centers on the tension between our finite, urgent lives and the vast, patient work of God’s eternity. We are called to remember: to remember God’s promises, God’s presence, and our place in a story that stretches far beyond our own lifetimes. The world is full of pain, trauma, and longing, and it is easy to become overwhelmed or to doubt that God is at work. Yet, the invitation is not to shame ourselves for our doubts or our forgetfulness, but to cultivate the skill of trust—trust that God is with us, that we are not alone, and that our lives are woven into the fabric of God’s eternal redemption.
Drawing from the stories of the Hebrew Scriptures, we see a pattern: people forget, God remembers. Again and again, God’s people lose sight of the miracles and faithfulness that have come before, panicking in the face of new challenges. Whether it’s the Israelites in the desert, hungry and afraid, or ourselves in moments of crisis, the temptation is to seek quick fixes or to despair. But God’s response is not to abandon us, nor to offer only temporary solutions, but to invite us into a deeper, generational healing—a healing that may not be complete in our own lifetimes, but is promised across eternity.
This perspective challenges our individualism and our impatience. God’s promises are not just for us as individuals, but for the whole community, for generations past and yet to come. We are part of a collective journey toward liberation and wholeness, and our role is to participate faithfully, even when we cannot see the outcome. The work of healing, justice, and redemption is slow, often painful, and rarely complete in a single lifetime. Yet, God’s patience is not slowness or absence, but a commitment to leave no one behind, to redeem every grain of sand.
We are invited to practice remembering—through prayer, through community, through rituals like communion. In these practices, we anchor ourselves in the present moment and in the eternity of God’s love. We are called to trust, to be patient, and to invest ourselves in the long, slow work of healing, knowing that God is always with us, always at work, and that our story is part of God’s eternal story of liberation.
Key Takeaways
- Remembering God’s Presence Is a Skill, Not a Given
It is natural to forget God’s faithfulness in moments of crisis, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Remembering is not a passive act but a spiritual discipline—a skill we must cultivate through intentional practice, community, and reflection. This discipline anchors us in trust, even when our circumstances tempt us to panic or despair. [01:13:24]
- God’s Patience Is Not Absence, But Commitment to True Healing
God’s timing often feels slow to us because we long for immediate fixes to our pain. Yet, God’s patience is a sign of deep investment in our true, lasting healing, not just temporary relief. The work of redemption is generational and eternal, requiring us to trust that God is at work even when we cannot see the results in our own lifetimes. [01:15:04]
- Our Lives Are Part of a Collective, Eternal Story
The promises of God are not just for individuals, but for the whole community—across generations. We are invited to see ourselves as part of a people, a lineage, a movement toward liberation that stretches beyond our own lifespan. This perspective frees us from the tyranny of individualism and invites us to invest in the flourishing of all, knowing that God’s redemption is for every grain of sand. [01:16:15]
- The Pain of Healing Is Real, But It Is Not the End
True healing often involves pain—sometimes more pain than the original wound. Like a parent tending a child’s injury, God is present with us in the pain, working for our wholeness even when we cannot understand the process. Our suffering is not ignored or minimized by God, but held within the larger story of redemption and transformation. [01:22:51]
- Practicing Trust and Remembrance Anchors Us in God’s Eternity
We are called to practice trust—not as a one-time decision, but as a daily, communal act. Through rituals, prayer, and the support of community, we remember that God is with us, that we are never alone, and that our story is part of God’s eternal work. This practice sustains us through crisis and empowers us to participate in the long arc of justice and liberation. [01:27:01]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction and Community Prayer
[02:10] - Dwelling in 2 Peter: Remembering God’s Promises
[05:30] - The Disorientation of Pain and Divine Love
[08:15] - Living in the Urgency of Now and the Scope of Eternity
[12:00] - God’s Patience vs. Human Impatience
[15:20] - The Skill of Trust and Remembering
[19:00] - Lessons from Parenting: The Urgency of Need
[25:10] - The Human Longing for Presence and Care
[29:30] - The Pattern of Forgetting and Remembering in Scripture
[36:00] - The Exodus: Miracles and Forgetfulness
[45:00] - The Golden Calf and the Practice of Remembrance
[53:00] - God’s Collective Promises and Eternal Perspective
[01:05:38] - The Pain and Process of True Healing
[01:13:24] - Practicing Trust and Remembrance in Community
[01:34:08] - Communion: Anchoring in the Present and Eternity
[01:39:50] - Sending Blessing and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
- 2 Peter 3:8-9
"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance."
- Exodus 16:2-5, 13-20
(The Israelites grumble in the wilderness about hunger, God provides manna, and they struggle to trust and remember God's provision.)
- Exodus 32:1-8
(The story of the golden calf: the people forget God’s miracles and seek a quick fix in Moses’ absence.)
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### Observation Questions
1. In 2 Peter 3:8-9, what is the difference between how God experiences time and how humans experience time?
2. According to the sermon, what pattern do we see in the stories of the Israelites in the wilderness regarding remembering and forgetting God’s faithfulness? [01:05:38]
3. What did the people do when Moses was gone for 40 days on Mount Sinai, and what does this reveal about their trust in God? [01:13:24]
4. How does the sermon describe God’s response to the Israelites’ panic and forgetfulness in the wilderness? [01:14:29]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might it be difficult for people to remember God’s faithfulness during times of crisis, according to both the sermon and the stories from Exodus? [01:13:24]
2. The sermon says, “God’s patience is not absence, but commitment to true healing.” What does this mean in the context of the Israelites’ journey and our own lives? [01:15:04]
3. How does seeing ourselves as part of a collective, generational story (rather than just individuals) change the way we understand God’s promises? [01:16:15]
4. The sermon compares the pain of healing to a child’s experience of having a splinter removed. What does this analogy suggest about the process of spiritual or communal healing? [01:22:51]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says remembering God’s presence is a skill, not a given. What are some practical ways you can practice remembering God’s faithfulness in your daily life? Are there specific rituals, prayers, or reminders that help you? [01:13:24]
2. When you face urgent needs or pain, do you tend to seek quick fixes or do you try to trust in God’s long-term healing? Can you share a recent example? What would it look like to choose trust over panic next time? [01:14:29]
3. Think about a time when you felt God was “slow” to answer a prayer or fix a problem. Looking back, can you see any signs of God’s patience or deeper work in that situation? [01:15:04]
4. The sermon challenges us to see ourselves as part of a larger, generational story. How might this perspective change the way you approach your own struggles, hopes, or prayers? [01:16:15]
5. The pain of healing is real, and sometimes it feels worse before it gets better. Is there an area in your life or community where you are experiencing this kind of pain? How can you invite God and others to walk with you through it? [01:22:51]
6. What are some ways your small group or church community can help each other practice trust and remembrance, especially during times of crisis or doubt? [01:27:01]
7. Communion and other rituals are described as ways to anchor ourselves in God’s love and presence. Are there spiritual practices you want to try or return to in order to stay connected to God’s eternal story? [01:34:08]
---
End of Guide
Devotional
Day 1: Remembering God's Faithfulness and Presence
The call to remember is woven throughout the story of God's people: to remember God's promises, God's faithfulness, and God's presence with us even when we feel lost or overwhelmed. In moments of crisis or pain, it is easy to forget how God has shown up before, just as the Israelites forgot the miracles they had witnessed. Yet, remembering is a spiritual practice—a skill we cultivate to anchor ourselves in trust, hope, and the assurance that God is with us now and always. [01:13:24]
2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Reflection: When was the last time you felt God’s presence or provision in your life? How can you intentionally remember and give thanks for that moment today, especially if you are struggling to see God now?
Day 2: Trusting God in the Midst of Crisis
Trust is not something we simply have or lack; it is a relationship and a skill that is built over time. Like a child who panics when hungry, forgetting that their parent has always provided, we too can become overwhelmed by our immediate needs and fears. Yet, beneath our urgent cries for quick fixes is a deeper longing: to know we are not alone, that God is with us through every moment, even when the pain or need feels endless. Practicing trust means choosing to believe in God’s presence and care, even when we cannot see the outcome. [01:05:38]
Exodus 16:2-4 (ESV)
"And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, 'Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.' Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel urgent need or fear right now? How might you practice trusting God’s presence and provision in that area today, even if you don’t see immediate answers?
Day 3: Embracing God’s Patience and the Long Work of Healing
God’s way is not about quick fixes or distractions, but about the patient, generational work of true healing and transformation. While we often long for immediate solutions, God invites us to participate in a process that may be slow, even painful, but is ultimately for our wholeness and the wholeness of our communities. This means investing ourselves in the long arc of justice, healing, and redemption, knowing that our efforts matter even if we do not see the full results in our lifetime. [01:22:51]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Where are you tempted to seek a quick fix instead of engaging in the slow, patient work of healing or justice? What is one step you can take today to invest in the long-term transformation God desires?
Day 4: Participating in God’s Eternal Story
We are not just individuals with isolated stories; we are part of God’s collective, eternal story of liberation and redemption. God’s promises are for generations, and our lives are woven into a tapestry that stretches far beyond what we can see or comprehend. Even when we feel small or insignificant, God assures us that every grain of sand matters, and that none will be left behind. Our calling is to live faithfully now, trusting that our part in God’s story is meaningful and eternal. [01:16:15]
Genesis 22:17 (ESV)
"I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies."
Reflection: How does knowing you are part of God’s larger, generational story change the way you view your daily actions and struggles? What is one way you can live today with an eternal perspective?
Day 5: Practicing Communion—Alive to the Present and to Eternity
Communion is a practice that grounds us in the present moment—our bodies, our hunger, our longing—and anchors us in the eternal love and promises of God. As we gather in community, we remember together that God is with us, nourishing us, and inviting us to trust in the redemption and liberation that is both now and forever. In this sacred act, we are reminded that we are never alone, and that God’s table is set for all, always. [01:35:12]
Luke 22:19-20 (ESV)
"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'"
Reflection: As you eat or drink today, how can you become more aware of God’s presence with you in this moment? What would it look like to let that awareness shape your sense of connection to God and to others?
Quotes
We are called to be a people of eternity. We are called to participate in this life every day like it matters because it does. But we are called to claim the victory of eternity and embrace the patience of God. We are also called to remember that every step, every moment of eternity, God is here with us. God is never not at work. God is always, always in the process of redemption and bringing us into wholeness. [01:25:33] (35 seconds)
We will get through this. We will get through it together. We will get through it with the love of our God. We will see God again. We saw them just a moment ago, even though it feels like a thousand years. We will see God again. We are a part of God's eternity. We are never abandoned. We are always loved and held. [01:27:08] (23 seconds)
The letter in 2 Peter explains that God is not slow, but God is patient because God will leave no one behind. And that is the irony. Because we are living these finite lives, because we cannot place ourselves in eternity, we think that our finite lives are all of us. But we have a stake in eternity, and across eternity, God will leave no one behind. [01:18:50] (30 seconds)
We have to be working on healing at an eternal level while we are working on healing on Tuesday. And if we are only thinking about this week and the next week, we are gonna go from fix to fix to fix, forgetting our eternal inheritance, forgetting God's eternal plan for transformation. God is not slow to intervene. God is patient enough to work on true healing, not giving us misdirects and band-aids, even though that's what we are begging for. [01:15:14] (35 seconds)
The original lyrics there, I will try to fix you. And that's a very human response. But the shift, the divine perspective, is I will be there with you. I will be there with you. And that is the ultimate promise. And that is actually what we are all ultimately longing for. But it is a skill to remember that God is with us, just as it is a skill for my toddler to remember that I will be there with her. [01:05:46] (32 seconds)
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