Your Struggle Has Purpose | Beyond the Sermon

Your Struggle Has Purpose | Beyond the Sermon

This week Mat and Magrey wrap up the Holy Struggle series by exploring Jacob's famous wrestling match and the life-changing name he receives afterward. Together they discuss why struggle is a normal part of faith, how our deepest growth often begins beneath the surface, and what it means to wrestle with questions of identity, purpose, and God. They also reflect on the surprising role of the subconscious, why moments of silence can bring clarity, and how our greatest struggles can become part of the story that shapes who we become. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Holy Struggle: Part 4 // Pastor Magrey deVega // August 2, 2026

Hosea 12:1-4 gives us insight into this famous story of Jacob wrestling with God. Jacob not only fought with the angel; he also wept as he entreated God. This gives us permission to feel our emotions, even amid the toughest, most existential struggles we have with our faith. But we should always maintain a readiness to “return to God, with loyalty, justice, and hope.” For all his trickster manipulations, Jacob models for us a tenacity that enables us to wrestle with our faith and maintain our faithfulness to God.    Reflection Questions: 1. What inner struggle might God be using to reshape your identity? 2. When have your deepest questions become opportunities for spiritual growth? 3. What false version of yourself is God inviting you to release? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

When Love Meets Reality | Beyond the Sermon

This week Sally Campbell-Evans joins Magrey Devega for a special episode of Beyond the Sermon as they unpack one of the Bible's strangest family stories. Together they explore the surprising lesson hidden within Jacob, Leah, and Rachel—that every person carries both strengths and flaws, and real love learns to embrace both. They also reflect on Leah's unexpected redemption, what it means to find your worth in God rather than others, and why this ancient story still speaks powerfully to our relationships today. Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Holy Struggle: Part 3 // Pastor Magrey deVega // July 26, 2026

Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but he was tricked into marrying Leah instead, and he had to work seven more years for Laban before he earned the right to marry Rachel. The context of this story may seem antiquated to our modern sensibilities, but it does convey the need for patience and endurance when what we long for in life seems out of reach. And there is redemption here for Leah as well. Though she was never Jacob’s first choice, she became the mother of ten of the twelve sons whose tribes would constitute the nation of Israel. That includes Judah, whose line would bring us King David, and eventually, Jesus.    Reflection Questions:  1. Where are you being invited to love someone beyond your idealized expectations? 2. What "Leah" within yourself might God be inviting you to accept with grace? 3. How can you praise God, even amid disappointment and fear?  Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Holy Struggle: Part 2 // Pastor Bernie Lieving // July 19, 2026

The vision of a gateway to Heaven at Penuel is an important moment in Jacob’s life, and it invites us to think about the “thin spaces” in our lives where we feel close to God. His statement, “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it,” can also invite us to be attentive to the serendipitous experiences of God that we might miss if we are not open to them.    Reflection Questions: 1. Can you remember a time or place when you felt especially close to God? What made that experience meaningful? 2. How does Jacob’s story remind you that God’s grace is present even in seasons of fear, failure, or uncertainty? 3. Where might God be inviting you to recognize a “thin space” in your everyday life this week? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps