Today, we gathered to remember who we are in Christ and to proclaim the truth of who God is, joining with Christians across centuries and continents in confessing the faith that unites us. We reflected on the wisdom of Proverbs, which reminds us that while God sometimes conceals things, it is our glory to seek Him—not in the ways we imagine, but in the ways He reveals Himself. The temptation to make God in our own image, to seek a deity who simply grants us comfort, power, or success, is as old as humanity itself. Yet, God is not the God we want, but the God we need—a God who enters into our brokenness, who is found not in glory and comfort, but in humility, suffering, and sacrificial love.

We considered how easy it is to seek honor for ourselves, to desire the best seats at the table, or to make our faith about what we can gain. Jesus, however, calls us to humility, to serve others, and to find our true worth not in recognition or reward, but in loving as He has loved us. The world is undeniably broken—marked by tragedy, loss, and pain. In these moments, we often ask, “Where is God?” The answer is that He is with us, right in the midst of our mess, suffering alongside us, and offering hope that transcends this world.

God’s greatest work is not in making our lives easy, but in overcoming sin and death through the cross and the empty tomb. The theology of the cross teaches us that God is most present where we least expect Him: in weakness, in suffering, in the places we would rather avoid. He is with us in our pain, our failures, and our grief, offering forgiveness, grace, and the promise of a new creation. Our hope is not in a God who simply fixes our problems, but in a Savior who has overcome the world and promises to be with us always, even as we wait for the fullness of His kingdom.

As we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness, we are reminded that nothing we have done can separate us from His love. We are called to live differently—to serve, to love, to forgive—because we are His children, redeemed and made new. In the sacraments, in the community of believers, and in the Word, God meets us with tangible grace, assuring us that He is with us now and always.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The God we seek is often not the God we need.Our natural tendency is to create a god in our own image—one who grants us comfort, power, or success. Yet, the true God reveals Himself in ways that challenge our expectations, calling us to seek Him not in our desires, but in His Word and in the humility of Christ. [44:14]
• 2. God’s presence is found in the midst of our brokenness, not apart from it.Rather than removing us from suffering, God enters into it with us. He is present in hospital rooms, in moments of grief, and in our deepest struggles, offering hope and companionship that the world cannot give. [55:20]
• 3. The theology of the cross teaches that God’s greatest work is accomplished through weakness and suffering.While we may long for glory and comfort, God’s power is made perfect in humility and sacrifice. The cross and the empty tomb are the ultimate demonstrations of His love and victory over sin and death. [48:55]
• 4. True humility is the path to honor in God’s kingdom.Jesus calls us to take the lowest place, to serve others without seeking recognition or reward. In doing so, we reflect His character and participate in the upside-down values of His kingdom, where the last are made first. [29:26]
• 5. Forgiveness and new life are found at the foot of the cross and the empty tomb.No sin is too great, no failure too deep, for the grace of Christ. As we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness, we are empowered to live as His redeemed people, bringing hope and love to a world in need. [59:43]