Trusting God's Presence Amidst Suffering and Doubt
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the profound and often troubling question: "Does God care, and is He really there?" This question arises from the suffering we witness in the world and in our own lives. We explored three foundational questions about God: Is He good? Is He knowledgeable? Is He all-powerful? These questions shape our relationship with Him and challenge our understanding when we face hardships.
We discussed the story of the Apostle Paul, who experienced a "thorn in the flesh" and pleaded with God to remove it. God's response was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." This teaches us that God's grace and strength are always available, even when our circumstances don't change as we wish. We also looked at John the Baptist, who, despite his close relationship with Jesus, faced execution without divine intervention. This highlights that God's ways and purposes often transcend our understanding.
The story of the cat stuck in the storm drain served as a metaphor for our cries for help and the seeming silence from God. Just as we wouldn't leave a suffering animal, we struggle to understand why God sometimes seems distant in our suffering. Yet, we are reminded that God's presence and purpose are always with us, even if we don't always perceive them.
Ultimately, we are called to trust in God's goodness, knowledge, and power, even when we don't understand His ways. We must choose to love Him and stay committed, despite our doubts and frustrations. This journey of faith is not about quick fixes but about growing in trust and understanding over time.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Goodness Amidst Suffering: We must grapple with the reality that God's goodness doesn't always align with our understanding of fairness. Despite the suffering we see, we are called to trust in His inherent goodness and believe that He has a greater purpose beyond our comprehension. [23:16]
2. God's Omniscience and Our Limited Perspective: God's knowledge is complete and perfect, whereas our understanding is limited. This means that what may seem like neglect or indifference from God is actually part of a larger, divine plan that we cannot fully grasp. [24:44]
3. God's Power in Our Weakness: The Apostle Paul's experience teaches us that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. When we are at our lowest, God's strength becomes most evident, providing us with the grace to endure and the faith to trust in His plan. [37:51]
4. The Role of Faith in Unanswered Prayers: Like John the Baptist, we may not always receive the answers we seek from God. However, faith involves trusting in God's wisdom and timing, even when His actions don't meet our expectations. This trust is crucial for spiritual growth and resilience. [40:36]
5. Choosing to Love and Stay Committed: Our relationship with God is not based on liking every aspect of His plan but on a committed, agape love. This love persists through doubts, frustrations, and unanswered questions, choosing to stay and trust in God's ultimate goodness and purpose. [42:08]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[23:16] - The Big Question: Does God Care?
[24:44] - Understanding God's Knowledge
[26:11] - Is God All-Powerful?
[27:23] - The Story of the Cat in the Storm Drain
[30:14] - Wrestling with Unanswered Prayers
[32:41] - The Apostle Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
[36:17] - Jesus' Response to Paul
[37:51] - God's Strength in Our Weakness
[39:16] - John the Baptist's Dilemma
[40:36] - Trusting God's Wisdom
[42:08] - Loving God Despite Our Doubts
[43:57] - Prayer and Commitment
[59:46] - The Journey of Spiritual Growth
[01:01:05] - Family Stories and Lessons
[01:03:40] - Waiting on God's Answer
[01:10:25] - God's Presence and Purpose in Pain
[01:12:32] - Choosing to Stay and Trust
[01:14:19] - Final Reflections and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (Apostle Paul's Thorn in the Flesh)
2. Matthew 11:2-6 (John the Baptist's Question to Jesus)
3. Philippians 4:6-7 (Peace of God)
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh," and how did he respond to it? (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
2. How did Jesus respond to John the Baptist's question about His identity? (Matthew 11:2-6)
3. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what are we instructed to do instead of being anxious?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God allowed Paul to have a "thorn in the flesh"? How does this relate to the idea that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness? (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) [37:51]
2. How does Jesus' response to John the Baptist's question challenge our expectations of divine intervention? (Matthew 11:2-6) [40:36]
3. What does it mean for the peace of God to "transcend all understanding," and how can this peace guard our hearts and minds? (Philippians 4:6-7) [01:08:39]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "storm drain" situation, crying out for help. How did you perceive God's presence or absence during that time? [27:23]
2. How can you apply the lesson of trusting in God's grace and strength in your current struggles? What practical steps can you take to rely more on His power rather than your own? [37:51]
3. John the Baptist faced execution without divine intervention. How can you maintain faith and trust in God when your prayers seem unanswered or when His actions don't meet your expectations? [40:36]
4. The sermon mentioned that we don't always have to like God to love Him. How can you cultivate a committed, agape love for God even when you are frustrated or confused by His ways? [42:08]
5. The peace of God is said to guard our hearts and minds. What specific anxieties or worries do you need to present to God in prayer this week, and how can you practice gratitude in those situations? [01:08:39]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of choosing to stay committed to God despite doubts and frustrations. What are some practical ways you can strengthen your commitment to God during difficult times? [01:12:32]
7. How can you support others in your small group or community who are struggling with their faith due to unanswered prayers or suffering? What actions can you take to be a source of encouragement and strength for them? [01:16:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Goodness Amidst Suffering
When we face suffering, it can be challenging to reconcile our pain with the belief in a good and loving God. The reality is that God's goodness doesn't always align with our understanding of fairness. We see this in the story of John the Baptist, who, despite his close relationship with Jesus, faced execution without divine intervention. This highlights that God's ways and purposes often transcend our understanding. We are called to trust in His inherent goodness and believe that He has a greater purpose beyond our comprehension. This trust is not about ignoring our pain but about believing that God is with us in it and that His goodness will ultimately prevail. [23:16]
Psalm 34:18-19 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt abandoned or in pain. How can you remind yourself of God's goodness and presence in that situation today?
Day 2: Embracing God's Omniscience
God's knowledge is complete and perfect, whereas our understanding is limited. This means that what may seem like neglect or indifference from God is actually part of a larger, divine plan that we cannot fully grasp. The story of the cat stuck in the storm drain serves as a metaphor for our cries for help and the seeming silence from God. Just as we wouldn't leave a suffering animal, we struggle to understand why God sometimes seems distant in our suffering. Yet, we are reminded that God's presence and purpose are always with us, even if we don't always perceive them. [24:44]
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."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you felt God was silent. How can you trust in His greater plan and knowledge today?
Day 3: Experiencing God's Power in Our Weakness
The Apostle Paul's experience with the "thorn in the flesh" teaches us that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. When we are at our lowest, God's strength becomes most evident, providing us with the grace to endure and the faith to trust in His plan. This is a profound reminder that our weaknesses and struggles are not obstacles to God's work but opportunities for His power to be displayed. We are called to lean into His strength and find comfort in His grace, knowing that He is with us in our trials. [37:51]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel weak or inadequate. How can you invite God's strength into that area today?
Day 4: Trusting God's Wisdom in Unanswered Prayers
Like John the Baptist, we may not always receive the answers we seek from God. However, faith involves trusting in God's wisdom and timing, even when His actions don't meet our expectations. This trust is crucial for spiritual growth and resilience. We are reminded that God's ways are higher than our ways and that His wisdom surpasses our understanding. This journey of faith is not about quick fixes but about growing in trust and understanding over time. [40:36]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: Think of a prayer that has gone unanswered. How can you trust in God's wisdom and timing in that situation today?
Day 5: Choosing to Love and Stay Committed
Our relationship with God is not based on liking every aspect of His plan but on a committed, agape love. This love persists through doubts, frustrations, and unanswered questions, choosing to stay and trust in God's ultimate goodness and purpose. We are called to love God with a steadfast commitment, even when we don't understand His ways. This journey of faith is about growing in trust and understanding over time, choosing to stay and trust in God's ultimate goodness and purpose. [42:08]
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (ESV): "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How can you choose to stay committed and trust in His love and purpose today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "But does god care is god really even there because we see the suffering in the world we see the suffering in our own lives we see the things that happen to us and around us and it's very easy for us to draw our own conclusions and say god just must not care about what's going on." [23:16] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so jesus is saying to him listen my grace will get you through i'll give you more than you need my strength is what people see in you when you're at the end of your rope when you have nowhere to go when you experience weakness and when you throw your hands up and say i can't that's when i do." [37:51] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And jesus said to him no my grace is sufficient for you my strength is made perfect in your weakness now if i were paul i would be listening saying grace is good right strength is good but i'm still strong for you to know me and i'm a strong person you can tell me what you're going to hear i'll be listening to you and it'll always be there in your mind you're stuck in the bottom of a storm drain screaming until my voice gets hoarse i want out so what do you do of course you want out it's human it's natural it's okay." [36:17] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And the peace of god which transcends all understanding i'll read that again and the peace of god which blows the human mind beyond the human comprehension will stand guard over your hearts in christ jesus while you wait so god promises us grace and strength and peace and then james tells us that wisdom comes a view of life from god's perspective but that wisdom comes to those who ask after we're willing to wait and have made a decision that we want to heal and not stay in our pain." [01:10:25] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And we don't always have to like god or to agree with him to trust him we have to choose to love him and decide to stay and not walk away like so many people do we have to prepare ourselves for the dark places because you've been there and you know what it's like or if not you're going there and we'll be there with you but being prepared certainly helps and we do the best we can but our best is never enough that we have to have god's strength we have to have grace we need god's peace to know that we're part of a plan." [01:12:32] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And so if we believe that he's good that he's powerful that he knows everything then it leaves us with a couple of questions and that is why would a good god who's all-powerful and knows everything allow so much junk to happen to us and around us because if i were god i wouldn't allow it now you should be thankful that i'm not god but the reality is it doesn't seem right it doesn't seem fair." [24:44] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And it's in that defining moment in your life after you've asked and you're waiting that you have to choose what it is that you're going to do what do you do when you don't hear what you want to hear when you want to hear it well let's go back and let's see what jesus said and jesus said to him no my grace is sufficient for you my strength is made perfect in your weakness." [34:03] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so jesus is saying to him listen my grace will get you through i'll give you more than you need my strength is what people see in you when you're at the end of your rope when you have nowhere to go when you experience weakness and when you throw your hands up and say i can't that's when i do and it doesn't mean that he's taking you out of the drain it means he's giving you everything you need to endure and when the world around us sees that isn't that real power and isn't that real strength but it's not always our first choice." [37:51] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And the reality is is that if you and i had god's power we would eliminate all suffering but the truth is that if we had god's wisdom we wouldn't and that blows my mind because i see and i see clearly but i don't see comprehensively so what are the two things that paul learned two things that are really important and i want to share them with you as we close the first is that god is always present in our pain that we're never alone unless we choose to go through it like we're alone allowing the rage to continue and the disillusionment to linger and the bitterness and the hard-heartedness to develop." [01:10:25] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And we don't always have to like god or to agree with him to trust him we have to choose to love him and decide to stay and not walk away like so many people do we have to prepare ourselves for the dark places because you've been there and you know what it's like or if not you're going there and we'll be there with you but being prepared certainly helps and we do the best we can but our best is never enough that we have to have god's strength we have to have grace we need god's peace to know that we're part of a plan and this is my favorite line from this entire message and it's the one that i've hung on to all week long this is the way that i understand that i reconcile all of this this issue i see clearly i'm not dumb i see it i see what happens over there i see what happens here i see what happens with my friends and my family i see what happens in my own life i'm not dumb i see it i see very clearly it's wrong i wish it would change i'd probably change it if i could it's not that i'm not paying attention my problem is i don't see comprehensively i don't have god's wisdom i have rick's wisdom i'm not all knowing i only see one item on the menu." [01:14:19] (92 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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