When God Doesn't Fix It | Exodus 3 | Crossroads Daily

I want to quote you to you. Oh, no. Because you said something, and I think it's, it's, it's worth like, did you mean this? Yeah. You said, I can't imagine a life without suffering. And the way that you said it was like, because suffering is beneficial. Yes. Do you believe that? This is the Crossroads Daily. No experts, no perfect people, just honest conversations about what happens when the Bible shows up in real life. Hey, I'm Chuck. I'm Kirsten. I'm Chris. I'm Alex. And we are still in Exodus. And today is Moses and the burning bush. Um, just a classic, epic, you know, Bible moment kind of thing. And wild. And very wild. Bush with some snakes and leprosy. No big deal. No big deal. Just God being God. Just God being God. Uh, I love the fact that there are these very real encounters of the living God that happened in the Old Testament. You know? Like we think about God being only a distant voice, but no, he, he comes present. Yeah.

Um, and that's really important, especially when you're going through a difficult spot. Moses was at a point in his life where whatever his dreams had been, he thought those were dead and gone, right? He's a shepherd. He's in the middle of the wilderness. The last thing he thinks is that God is going to use him to do something great. And yet boom there, God calls him out of it. So I wonder like when you're in a place of suffering or difficulty, how does it feel to know that even in that place, God still sees you, God still knows you. I think at first I'm annoyed. I'm like, uh, hello. I know you can see me. I know you hear me. Like similar to Moses, like Moses is, um, existence and survival is so rooted in God's like protection over him. And I have a story just similar to that of just like, oh my gosh, without God's protection over me from a little baby and answering prayers of my grandparents. Like, I don't think I'd be here. And so I know he can hear me. So when I'm suffering, I'm like, hello, what is happening? Do something. Yes. Like I know you can do something. And yet it's that, um, both ends of, I know, and I've also seen how he has always made my suffering into something like way more beautiful and grown me into a way better, um, just like warrior for his kingdom, honestly, like I can't imagine going through life without suffering or without, um, difficulty. Cause what, uh, you guys like, I feel like we've all met people. Everyone has gone through difficulty for sure. But I just never want to be someone that is so unseasoned of life that I just

don't have the spice to be able to relate and to teach into, uh, know how to rely on God in those moments. And so that's the, like, and I think he's so okay with being angry at like being you being angry at him. Like, I think he's just like, it's like a toddler that's like mad at you. Like my son, Oliver, he's three. He has been really into like, um, physical abuse and anger, which is like, so not his character. You might want to clarify that. He's been into physical abuse and anger. Like he's hitting, he has plastic golf clubs. But it is the craziest thing that if we're like fighting him to get on for a nap, he'll be looking, he'll go get his golf club and he'll threaten me. He'll let him hold it back. I was like, Oliver, absolutely not. But like, I know he just doesn't know what to do with that. Yeah. He's just like, I'm so mad that I have to do this thing. And it got taken out. Like he, like you've turned your face laughing. Cause you're like, this is hilarious that you think you're going to take me down with this plastic. What a great perspective though. Cause I mean, how many times am I like Oliver toward God? Maybe not like raising a golf club, but like angry, you know, but God is like not, maybe not laughing at me, but he has grace for that. I want to quote you to you. Oh no. Cause you said something and I think it's, it's, it's worth like, did you mean this? Yeah.

You said, I can't imagine a life without suffering. And the way that you said it was like, because suffering is beneficial. Yes. Do you believe that? Absolutely. Okay. Absolutely. Yeah. It just there. And it's almost magical. Like you can't explain it. You can't. People will try, try, try to write books on it. And it just can't, you can't do it. God just works through such miraculous ways through suffering that it's kind of like when someone loses something, someone or is grieving, you can't tell them like, it'll be okay. Like they just have to live through it through it. You have to, you gotta walk through the suffering. How about you guys? When you're suffering, how are you reassured knowing? then God does see you still, he does know you. Yeah. I mean, I think I've seen what you're saying, Kirsten, is like hitting home, because I have seen how suffering produces character. And I mean, Paul talks about that. And we should have joy in our sufferings, but in the moment, it's hard to see that. It's like after the fact that you see those things.

And so in the moment, I feel like I've responded a few different ways in some of the hardest moments of my life. I think back to a time when I was pregnant and my marriage was struggling and I was super physically ill. And there was just like some family drama happening. Like there was just so, there was so much. And I remember praying a prayer to God of like, God, I need you to be for me how when I was growing up and I was really sick or I was scared and I was like a little kid and all I wanted was just to be with my mom or my dad. And you would like get out of your bed and you would all like, they couldn't do anything. You just wanted to be like curled up in bed close to them. And I remember praying that prayer of like, that's what I need from you right now. Like as my heavenly father, like I just need to like that feeling of like comfort of just like being close to where I could just like curl up in bed and like, I don't even, there's like nothing to do. Like, I don't even know what you would do. I don't even know what to ask for you to do. I just like need you close. And that was a moment for me and the Lord of like seeing him in that way in suffering. Like sometimes I am a fixer, like me as a person. And I even noticed that in the way that I respond for other people in their suffering of like,

what can I do to fix it? And sometimes people just need you to like be there. It's the hardest thing. Did God answer that prayer for you in a way that you could experience? I think so. What was that experience? I think when I look back on that season of my life, that is one of the times that I have felt closest to the Lord. Like there were times where I could almost physically, tangibly feel his presence. And I think that was an answer to that prayer. That's awesome. That's so good. Thanks for sharing that. That's a very honest, very real moment, right? Yeah. Chris, I'm wondering, the question around this is like, how do you typically handle difficulty? I want all those things, you know, something hard's coming. What's your typical approach? And what does that approach say about what you think about God? Yeah. I mean, my typical approach is like, I mean, I grew up in church, so I know that textbook answer of like, he's with me, he knows me, he sees me. But then I'm like, all right, but then what?

Like, that's not good enough. That's like, like that's the foundation. But like, I need more. I need him to jump in and do something. And so it's a lot of me just like running to the next thing. It's like, okay, well, this part of my life is hard, but you know what? Like the Lakers are on tonight, so like everything's gonna be okay. Or like, I can go to the gym and like feel good about my physique. Or I can go like cram my face with whatever's in the fridge or like go to McDonald's. And it's like, I can just keep medicating with thing after thing. So I don't have to go back to the original thing that was hurting or that was difficult. And you guys, I mean, you've been parents for longer than I am. So you can coach me on this. But like, I feel like something I've been trying to do with my daughter who's 15 months, but like she'll stub her toe or like the block isn't fitting in that thing well. And she gets really frustrated. And I'm just like, I get on her level and I'm trying to look at her and be like, hey, I'm with you. That's great, man, that's so good. I'm right here.

Oh, that's so good. And because every, you know, and she's like kind of swinging at me and she's like, no, like fix the thing. You get a piece of toddler too? She's trying to find the golf club. Yeah, we're keeping that out of the house for now. All the weapons are gone. That's my advice. Exactly. But like, I could see her being like, no, do something. Like this hurts, it's not going away. Or like the thing's not fitting, fix that. And I'm just like, I'm here with you. And I've seen the tiniest progression because she's still so little of like her being more okay with me comforting her in that moment and just being like, my dad's presence is all I need. And it's like, dang, like that. I want her to grow up knowing that and to know like for me, for the longest time, it was just like placate, placate, medicate, medicate, get anything that can feel good. But I've found such a joy just being like, God knows me and sees me. And that alone, nothing else, period, point blank, stop. That is all I need. That he's just with me, doesn't, plus nothing else. You just preached a whole word. You just preached a whole word.

We're going to leave it there, honestly, because that is the word for the day. He said, all I need is my dad's presence. Amen. May you know that you live with the presence of your father. He is with you.