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Reflections Podcast
Reflections Podcast
Reflections • Episode 16
What God Does About Suffering
14m • April 14, 2021

Why does God allow so much suffering in the world? And is he doing anything about it? The Bible doesn’t answer all of our questions about why God allows suffering. But it does tell us a story about how God responds to human suffering. We learn that God has chosen to partner with humans to deliver communities from suffering, and that he chose to enter our pain by becoming human himself. Jesus took up the worst of human suffering, shoved it into a grave, and rose again to give us a new future––one that’s free of injustice and grief. Yes, our questions around suffering are valid. God hears us and understands our pain. Today, let’s tune into the question God has for us. As we face suffering in the world, will we partner with him to be a part of his solution?

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Why does God allow so much suffering in the world? And is he doing anything about it? The Bible doesn’t answer all of our questions about why God allows suffering. But it does tell us a story about how God responds to human suffering. We learn that God has chosen to partner with humans to deliver communities from suffering, and that he chose to enter our pain by becoming human himself. Jesus took up the worst of human suffering, shoved it into a grave, and rose again to give us a new future––one that’s free of injustice and grief. Yes, our questions around suffering are valid. God hears us and understands our pain. Today, let’s tune into the question God has for us. As we face suffering in the world, will we partner with him to be a part of his solution?

Bible Reading
2 Kings 25:8-12, 27-30

Reflection Questions

  1. What is one way your community is suffering now?
  2. Consider God’s character of justice, mercy, and love. How does he want to comfort and restore your community?
  3. What is one step you can take this week to join God’s plan of restoration?

Want to Go Deeper?
Check out this episode's Bible study to watch a video and explore more detailed questions for personal study and group discussion.

Show Credits

  • Host: Cheree Hayes
  • Message: Dr. Tim Mackie
  • Bible Reading: Michelle Jones
  • Production: Dan Gummel
  • Theme music: Grant William Harold
  • Background Music: Calme by Borrtex

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2 Chronicles 36:22-23  –  13m
Looking Back to Look Forward
13m
Malachi 3:16-4:6  –  13m
Treasured by God
13m
Daniel 7:9-14  –  13m
There’s Hope in the Nightmare
13m
Esther 4:1-17  –  16m
Who Does God Choose to Work Through?
16m
Ezra 4:1-3, Isaiah 56:3-8  –  15m
Is God Inclusive?
15m
Ezekiel 36:22-36  –  14m
Promise for New Hearts
14m
Lamentations 3:19-33  –  14m
Learning How to Grieve from Lamentations
14m
Jeremiah 4:16-28, 1 Thessalonians 5  –  15m
The Deep Anguish of God
15m
Song of Songs 8:6-7  –  15m
Wisdom from Sensual Love Poetry?
15m
Ecclesiastes 4:4-12  –  15m
One Handful of Rest
15m
Isaiah 42:1-16  –  14m
Power of Metaphor
14m
Proverbs 1:1-7  –  13m
How to Live Wisely
13m
Job 38:1-18, Job 42:1-6  –  15m
How God Replies to Job’s Suffering
15m
Jonah 4:1-11, Exodus 34:5-9, 1 Kings 19:3-5  –  14m
God’s Mercy on Our Enemy
14m
Hosea 14:1-9  –  14m
What God Wants From Us
14m
Isaiah 61  –  12m
What Good News Looks Like
12m
1 John 1  –  12m
Message of the Prophets
12m
2 Kings 25  –  14m
What God Does About Suffering
14m
1 Kings 6  –  14m
Redeeming Disappointment
14m
2 Samuel 7  –  14m
Faithful Through Failure
14m
1 Samuel 2  –  13m
When You Feel Powerless
13m
Ruth 2  –  12m
How God Treats His Enemies
12m
Judges‬ 2  –  12m
When We Walk Out on God
12m
14m
Deuteronomy 30  –  11m
Understanding Ancient Law
11m
Deuteronomy 4  –  12m
God's Wisdom on Display
12m
Numbers 13  –  11m
Trusting God in the Wilderness
11m
Leviticus 25  –  13m
Gift of Rest
13m
Hebrews 10  –  12m
Meaning of Sacrifice
12m
Exodus 19  –  12m
Rescued for a Purpose
12m
Exodus 3  –  15m
When We Cry Out
15m
Genesis 32  –  13m
Wrestling God
13m
Genesis 1-3  –  15m
Why God Gave Choice
15m

Reflect

Once you've listened to the podcast, take time to reflect on these questions.

  1. What is one way your community is suffering now?
  2. Consider God’s character of justice, mercy, and love. How does he want to comfort and restore your community?
  3. What is one step you can take this week to join God’s plan of restoration?

Go Deeper

If you would like to dive deeper, use these Scriptures and questions for personal study or small group discussion.

The Bible doesn’t answer all of our questions about why God allows suffering, but it does tell us a story about how God responds to human suffering. God has chosen to partner with humans to deliver communities from suffering, and he chose to enter our pain by becoming human himself. Jesus took up the worst of human suffering, shoved it into a grave, and rose again to give us a new future—one that’s free of injustice and grief. But our questions around suffering are still valid. God hears us and understands our pain. Today, let’s tune into the question God has for us. As we face suffering in the world, will we partner with him to be a part of his solution?

Feel free to reflect on all the questions, or just a few right now. You can also reflect throughout the week by focusing on one question per day.

Message Question
How did Tim’s message challenge or encourage you today?

Read: 2 Kings 25:8-12, 2 Kings 25:27-30, Romans 8:22-39

  1. The Babylonian captivity was full of chaos and sorrow. Today’s readings from 2 Kings offer small glimpses of hope that show how God was not done blessing his people. How do these moments of hope point to the blessing God would one day make full for his people?
  2. Review today’s passage from Romans. What are some of the hopes we have in the midst of our suffering? How did God show us his love through his own suffering?
  3. What is one way your community is suffering right now?
  4. As you observe and grieve the suffering around you, what are some glimpses of hope you notice?
  5. Consider God’s character of justice, mercy, and love. How does he want to comfort and restore your community?
  6. What is one step you can take this week to reflect God’s character and join in his plan of restoration for your community?
  7. Turn your reflections into a prayer now. Point out areas of pain and glimpses of hope in your community. Ask for hope to expand and for all his restoration plans to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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