Where Is God When the World Is Suffering?
Rev. Greg Hartman | New Spirit Lutheran Church | Second Sunday in Lent
Excerpt: When the world feels heavy and suffering seems everywhere, Jesus doesn’t give us an explanation — he gives us a location. In Matthew 25, Christ tells us exactly where God can be found. (The livestream of the worship this sermon is from can be found HERE.)
Let’s not pretend.
The world feels heavy right now.
War. Violence. Families grieving. Communities digging out from destruction. Neighbors afraid. And somewhere beneath it all, a question rises up:
Where is God in all of this?
That’s not weak faith. That’s honest faith.
And in this Lenten season — when we keep asking, “Tell me something good” — that question feels even sharper.
Jesus Already Gave Us the Answer
In Matthew 25, Jesus doesn’t give us an explanation for suffering. He gives us a location.
“I was hungry.”
>“I was thirsty.”
>“I was sick.”
>“I was in prison.”
>“I was a stranger.”
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me.”
If we want to know where God is when the world is breaking apart, Jesus tells us plainly: God is with the hungry, the displaced, the grieving, and the vulnerable.
God is not distant from suffering. God is found in it.
Innocent Life Is Innocent Life
This teaching pushes against our instinct to divide the world into “us” and “them.”
But innocent life is innocent life. Period. Nationality doesn’t change that. Religion doesn’t change that. Politics doesn’t change that.
When innocent people suffer, Christ stands with them. And if we follow Christ, we don’t get to stand somewhere else.
Did We See — Or Did We Cross the Street?
In our prayer this Sunday we asked: Did we see you hungry and give you something to eat? Or did we cross the street?
Lent is not about vague reflection. It’s about honest confession and courageous love.
Prayer matters. But Jesus didn’t say, “I was hungry and you felt concerned.” He said, “You gave me something to eat.”
The call is embodied: Feed. Visit. Welcome. Give. Not someday. Not theoretically. Now.
When Conflict Spreads, Fear Follows
History shows us that when nations are at war, suspicion spills over. Neighbors become targets. Places of worship are vandalized. People who look “different” carry fear that isn’t theirs to carry.
So here is the real question for us: Are we quietly blending in? Or are we visibly standing for love, mercy, and peace?
Tell Me Something Good
If the gospel is good news, then here it is: God’s love is stronger than hatred. Mercy is still possible. Compassion still moves people to act. Christ is still present among “the least of these.”
We are forgiven. We are invited to try again. We are called to great love for God and neighbor. That is not soft news. It is strong news.
This Week
We may not be able to end global conflict, but we can make love visible.
Share what we have. Speak up when hatred surfaces. Refuse dehumanizing language. Stand with the vulnerable.
Ask yourself: Where am I tempted to look away? What resource — time, money, voice, presence — am I holding back? Where might Christ already be waiting for me?
If you want to know where God is when the world is suffering — look for the hurting. And then go stand there.
