***Note – We just completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our fourth devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 16 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next several weeks.
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Genesis 10 – 11
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 10 – “The God Who Sees the End from the Beginning”
Chapter 11 – “God’s Plans Always Prevail”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. – Proverbs 16:9
I Do – Watch Me Study
Genesis Chapter 10
“The God Who Sees the End from the Beginning”
(Read Genesis Chapter 10 First)
Genesis 10 is often called the ‘Table of Nations.’ When you first read it, it can feel like just a long list of names that are hard to pronounce. But if you take the time to slow down and look closely, you realize it’s actually a map of where the nations came from and a reminder of God’s hand over all of our history.
1. God sees the end from the beginning
From Japheth (Noah’s son) came Javan, whose descendants became the Greeks. As we read on, we will discover that the Greeks become a mighty empire that shaped world history and even appear in prophecy (Isaiah 66:19; Daniel 8:21; Joel 3:6). This reminds us that God knows how every story begins and ends. Nothing in our lives is too small for God to incorporate into His bigger plan.
2. Human pride versus God’s rule
From Ham’s (Noah’s son) line came Nimrod, who built kingdoms like Babel, Nineveh, and Babylon. Josephus records that Nimrod led people away from trusting God, turning them toward tyranny and pride. His story shows us what happens when humans try to build their own kingdoms instead of submitting to God’s. Nimrod’s cities later become the very places God’s people struggle against (Babylon in Daniel, Nineveh in Jonah, Assyria in 2 Kings). Pride always sets us up against God, but His kingdom stands forever.
3. God’s promises are trustworthy
Ham’s (Noah’s son) son, Canaan, fathered the Canaanite nations of the Jebusites, Amorites, and others. These are the very nations God promised Abraham that Israel would overcome (Gen. 15:18–21). Generations after Genesis 10, God’s Word proved true as Joshua led Israel into the land. What God says, even in genealogies, comes to pass.
4. The nations are in God’s hand
From Shem (Noah’s son) came nations like Elam and Assyria. From these names we see the spread of people across the earth, just as God commanded after the flood. The nations, both then and now, are not random or out of control. Acts 17:26 reminds us that God “determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” He is the Lord of history, directing all nations toward His ultimate plan of redemption in Christ.
Key Takeaway: Genesis 10 reminds us that all of history is guided by God. From great nations being formed to the little names we tend to skip over, everything is part of His plan.
After the flood, everyone spoke the same language. As people journeyed east, they found the plain of Shinar (Babylonia/Chaldea—modern-day Iraq). This was a valley with two rivers, and I imagine that it was fertile and appealing, so they settled there. They were planning a great city and a tower that reached the heavens.
We find their goal in this verse… “Let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (v. 4).
This was a direct rebellion against God’s command in Genesis 9:1 to “be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.” Instead of spreading out to fill the earth, they resisted God’s plan and wanted to settle for their own glory.
The Lord came down to see their work. He said, “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language… and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (v. 6). God wasn’t intimidated by their power, but I believe He knew that their coming together apart from Him would end in disaster.
So I think it was in mercy that He confused their language and scattered them across the earth. The city was called Babel, meaning “confusion.” It’s no coincidence that later, Babel/Babylon became a biblical picture of human pride standing against God.
Life Application: Pride always leads to confusion. God’s will cannot be stopped. Obstacles in our plans may actually be His way of protecting us from building our own “tower.”
Part 2: The Lineage of Shem (vv. 10–32)
From Shem’s line comes a genealogy leading to Abram (later Abraham).
What we learn about Abram’s family:
• His wife, Sarai, is barren (v. 30).
• His brother Haran dies, leaving his son Lot (v. 28). Lot becomes significant later.
• Terah, Abram’s father, leads the family from Ur of the Chaldees (southern Iraq) toward Canaan, but they stop and dwell in Haran (southern Turkey) where Terah dies (vv. 31–32).
After God scattered nations at Babel, He focuses in on one family through whom He will carry out His covenant plan. Genesis 12 will show God calling Abram to Canaan with the promise of blessing all nations.
Even in the middle of human rebellion (Babel), God was already working out His covenant plan through Shem’s line. Our failures never derail God’s purposes.
1. What “small” areas of my life do I need to entrust to God, believing He sees the end from the beginning?
2. Where am I tempted to build my own “kingdom” instead of seeking God’s kingdom first?
3. How does seeing God’s promises fulfilled in history strengthen my faith in His promises for me today?
4. Do I trust that God is sovereign over the nations even when the world seems unstable? How can I rest in His control this week?
5. Where in my life might I be building a “tower” for my own name instead of God’s glory?
6. How have I seen God lovingly “scatter” my plans when they didn’t align with His will?
7. What gives me comfort when I realize that no matter how chaotic the world seems, God is still unfolding His plan?
Heavenly Father,
Your Word tells us that our hearts plan out what we want to accomplish and the direction we want our lives to go, but You are there directing us and helping us stay on the right path. We thank You for Your guiding hand. We trust that You know the end from the beginning. Help us not to be prideful in thinking that we need to make a name for ourselves instead of exalting Your name. Help us to remember that pride always leads to confusion and that above all we need to seek You first.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 12th and final week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 15 overall, we’re completing the book of Job today. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 40 – 42
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 40 – “The Wisdom of Silence and the Strength of Trust”
Chapter 41 – “The Creator of Terrifying Things”
Chapter 42 – “Restored Through Repentance and Forgiveness”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” Job 42:2
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 40
“The Wisdom of Silence and the Strength of Trust”
(Read Job Chapter 40 First)
God continues His conversation with Job, asking him to answer after all of his complaints and questions. Job had been eager to defend himself even to the point of seeming to “judge” God’s motives. But now, after being reminded of God’s greatness, Job answers in a whole new way.
“Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.” (Job 40:4–5)
Here we see Job’s humility. He admits he has spoken too much in his grief and confusion. He thought he understood, but now he realizes that he does not. Instead of continuing to argue, he chooses silence.
One thing we can learn from this is… A mark of spiritual maturity is knowing when to stop talking and start listening to God. We often crave explanations, but sometimes the most faithful response is to trust God’s wisdom rather than demand answers. Silence before God is wisdom, not weakness.
God then continues by challenging Job with questions of power and authority: Can Job clothe himself in majesty and glory? Can he humble the proud or bring justice by his own strength? The obvious answer is no. Only God has that authority.
Then the Lord points Job to His creation. Behemoth, a massive, untamed creature that relies fully on God’s provision. God feeds him from the earth, sustains him with water, and gives him comfort and ease.
“Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.” (Job 40:23)
Notice those words: “hasteth not” and “trusteth.”
Behemoth trusts the provision of God.
Job (and we) are being reminded to live the same way. We shouldn’t rush ahead in fear and demand answers, but trust in God’s care.
Journal & Reflection:
• Where in my life am I tempted to keep talking instead of quietly listening to God?
• What situations make me anxious, where I need to learn from Behemoth to “hasten not” and “trust”?
• How might silence, humility, and trust change the way I walk with God this week?
In Job 41, God describes the mighty Leviathan, a sea creature unlike anything Job could imagine. God paints a vivid picture: sharp teeth, impenetrable scales, fiery breath, a heart of stone, and a fearlessness that terrifies even the strongest warriors. Leviathan is so untouchable that even iron bends before him like straw. No one dares to stir him up….and yet God says, “I made him.”
Here’s the point God is making to Job: If you tremble at Leviathan, remember that he is just one of My creatures. How much greater is My power as his Creator?
This verse really spoke to me…“He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride” (Job 41:34). Pride is pictured as something dangerous that puts us under the rule of a terrifying master. This verse made me think that when we walk in pride, we let something strong and destructive have dominion over us.
But humility brings freedom. Job had to learn that lesson. After hearing God’s questions and descriptions, Job stopped arguing, stopped demanding answers, and simply bowed in silence. Since chapter 40, when Job admitted he was vile and said he would lay his hand over his mouth, he hasn’t spoken another word to God. But keep reading, because in the very last chapter of Job, he does speak one more time. And what he says is powerful.
Journaling Question:
What might it look like today for me to “lay my hand over my mouth” and to stop explaining and defending myself and simply trust God?
Let’s remember….The same God who created the fearsome and untouchable Leviathan is the One who lovingly holds your life in His hands. That’s both humbling and comforting. If He has power over the most terrifying things He created, then surely He has power over the struggles, fears, and battles in your life today.
Job finally speaks again after hearing God’s powerful words. This time, Job’s response is different because his heart is humbled.
He says, “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Job 42:2). Job acknowledges God’s sovereignty and that nothing is hidden from Him.
In verse 3, Job repeats God’s earlier question from Job 38:2: “Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?” This time Job admits, “That was me. I spoke without understanding.” Job confesses that he had spoken about things too wonderful for him to comprehend.
In verse 5, Job says: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” He had heard of God before, but now he truly sees Him, meaning Job now has a deeper, clearer understanding of God’s greatness, holiness, and wisdom. That new vision of God leads Job to repentance:“Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (v. 6).
Sometimes God allows hardships to open our eyes so that we see Him more clearly than we ever did before. Think of a time in your life when trials gave you a new perspective of who God is.
Journal Prompt:
• What’s one area in your life where you’ve had to admit, “I spoke without knowledge”?
• How has God used a hard season to deepen your understanding of Him?
After Job’s repentance, God turns to Job’s friends. He rebukes Eliphaz and the others for speaking wrongly about Him: “My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath” (Job 42:7).
God commands them to bring offerings and to have Job pray for them. Notice this….God would only accept Job’s prayer on their behalf. What an honor! And what humility from Job, who forgave his friends and prayed for them despite the pain they had caused him.
This next verse is so powerful! “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).
Forgiveness and obedience unlock blessing. When Job prayed for those who wronged him, God restored him abundantly. If we want to remain in God’s favor, we must be willing to forgive and pray even for those who have hurt us.
Journal Prompt:
• Who in your life do you need to forgive?
• How might praying for that person change both them and you?
The closing verses of Job show God’s abundant restoration. Job’s family and friends return to comfort him. God blesses him with even greater wealth, livestock, and children. His daughters, Jemimah, Kezia, and Keren-happuch, are described as the most beautiful in the land, and Job even gives them an inheritance alongside their brothers, a countercultural sign of overflowing blessing.
Job lives to see four generations and dies “old and full of days.” His story, which began with unimaginable loss, ends with restoration, joy, and honor.
Job’s story reminds us that suffering isn’t the end of the story for God’s people. When we stay humble, repentant, forgiving, and obedient, we open the door for God’s blessing and restoration.
Journal Prompt:
• Where in your life do you need to repent and turn back to God?
• How does Job’s story give you hope for the “happy ending” God is writing in your own life?
Key Takeaway:
Repentance brings restoration. Forgiveness unlocks blessing. Obedience invites God’s favor. Like Job, may we walk humbly with God, forgive freely, and trust Him to restore in His perfect time.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
If you’ve gone through this study with us, you’ve just completed not only reading but studying out the entire book of Job. That is something to celebrate! Job is one of the hardest books of the Bible, and you have faithfully dug into its rich truths.
Next, in our chronological reading plan, we’ll be heading back to the book of Genesis where we’ll see God’s hand in creation, His covenant promises, and His faithfulness through the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Let’s take the lessons from Job of trust, humility, and perseverance into the story of beginnings as we continue walking through God’s Word together.
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank You for guiding us through the book of Job. We have learned so many truths that we can carry with us and apply to our own lives. As we continue on in our study of the Bible, I pray that You would open our eyes to see clearly what You want to teach us through Your Word. Lord, I lift up the Kirk family. Please give them peace and comfort that passes all understanding. Thank You for the Christian movement and revival You began in Charlie Kirk’s heart, and I ask that You would fill us with boldness to keep it going. We’re seeing people saved, churches filling with first-time visitors, and believers all around the world emboldened to speak Your name like never before, and I’m so grateful.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 11th week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 14 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. Next Monday will be our final week in Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 38 – 39
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 38 – “Were You There? Learning to Trust in God’s Power”
Chapter 39 – “He Provides. Lessons from His Creatures”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matthew 6:26
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 38
“Were You There? Learning to Trust in God’s Power”
(Read Job Chapter 38 First)
Job 38 is the long-anticipated turning point in Job’s story. It’s the moment when God Himself finally speaks. Up to this point, we’ve listened to Job plead his innocence and pour out his questions, while his friends accused him of hidden sin. Notice God doesn’t start with an explanation, but He answers with questions of His own.
Think back to some of Job’s cries: “Why was I even born?” (Job 3:11, 20). “Why won’t You pardon me?” (Job 7:20–21). “Why do the wicked prosper?” (Job 21:7). “Why won’t You answer me?” (Job 30:20).
When God responds, His tone is firm: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me” (Job 38:2–3).
God begins asking Job a series of questions that highlight His supreme wisdom and power:
• Were you there when I laid the foundations of the earth?
• Can you command the morning or enter the springs of the sea?
• Do you store up the snow and hail? Can you guide the stars?
• Do the clouds obey your voice, or does lightning answer to you?
One by one, God reminds Job that creation itself is evidence of His authority. Every drop of rain, every path of light and darkness, every star in the heavens is under His control. Even the animals cry to Him for provision (Job 38:39–41).
What stands out to me most is verse 41: “Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.” Even the helpless baby ravens instinctively cry to their Creator for food.
This passage reminds me that God doesn’t owe me an explanation for everything I don’t understand. Instead, He calls me to humility and trust. If the One who commands the seas, the stars, and the seasons, holds all of creation in His hand, surely He can hold my life too.
Journal Questions:
• Where am I questioning God’s ways instead of trusting His wisdom?
• What would it look like today to rest in His sovereignty instead of leaning on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6)?
God’s response to Job in this chapter is full of questions: “Do you know? Can you? Will you?” Each question points to His supreme wisdom and Job’s limited understanding. The sure-footed wild goats, the untamed donkeys, the strong ox, the fearless ostrich, the powerful horse, the keen-eyed hawk, and the high-flying eagle…all of them reveal God’s creative power and intentional design.
These creatures teach us something…God equips each one with what it needs. Some are strong, some swift, some free, some protective, some fierce. God points out that none of them are Job’s doing, and none can be controlled by human strength. In the same way, God has uniquely equipped each of us with gifts, strengths, and abilities. Part of walking with Him is learning to discover and use those traits for His glory.
For us, the lesson is clear: God alone holds wisdom, strength, and control over creation and over our lives. Like Job, we are often tempted to think we understand how things should work, or to lean on our own strength. But God reminds us that His knowledge and design go far beyond ours. If He provides for the wild animals in barren places, if He gives each one its gifts and instincts, then surely He will provide for us, whom He made in His image.
Instead of asking “Why?” like Job, we can rest in “Who.” The “who” is God. He’s the Creator who sustains us ALL. Just as He gives every creature exactly what it needs, he will give us what we need too!
Think about the animals God described to Job. Each one was created with unique strengths and instincts, and none of them were left without provision. If God cares so carefully for the wild goats in the mountains or the ravens crying out for food, how much more will He care for you?
Job 38:41
“Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”
Psalm 104:27–28
“These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.”
Psalm 147:9
“He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.”
Matthew 6:26
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Take a moment to reflect:
• Where am I tempted to rely on my own strength instead of God’s provision?
• What areas of my life feel “untamed” or out of control right now?
• How might remembering God’s wisdom and care bring me peace in those areas?
Write down one specific situation you’re facing and pray over it, asking God to remind you that He has equipped you with what you need today.
Key Takeaway:
God carefully equips and provides for every part of His creation. If He cares for the animals He made, we can trust that He will provide for and equip us.
Heavenly Father,
Your knowledge and abilities amaze me. As I read these scriptures where You spoke about how Your creation obeys Your voice and relies on Your provision, I am reminded just how much I need you too. I don’t need to lean on my own understanding, but to have humility and trust. We see that You equip creatures with exactly what they need that’s unique to them. We can be sure that You have done the same for each one of us. Help us pray and discover what specific traits You have given us to serve You best. Thank You for caring so much for us!
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 10th week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 13 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 35 – 37
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 35 – “Finding Joy in the Middle of Oppression”
Chapter 36 – “God’s Justice and Discipline”
Chapter 37 – “The God Who Commands the Storm”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 35
“Finding Joy in the Middle of Oppression”
(Read Job Chapter 35 First)
In Job 35, young Elihu continues speaking to Job. He challenges Job by asking if it’s right for him to say that his righteousness is greater than God’s (Job 35:2–3). However, when we look closely at Job’s words, we see he never claimed this. Job simply wrestled with his suffering and his confusion. He considered himself upright and could not understand why God was treating him as if he were guilty (Job 9:15–22; 10:2–3; 27:2–6).
Elihu misunderstands Job’s words and thinks he is being prideful. Using Job’s complaint, Elihu does point to an important truth: God’s justice is perfect, and hardships are meant to guide us toward humility, trust, and discernment.
Elihu asks Job to look at the heavens and the clouds and asks:
• If you sin, what does it do to God?
• If you are righteous, what benefit is it to Him?
• The oppressed cry because of the many burdens upon them.
These verses remind us that life can weigh us down in many ways. Sometimes it’s career pressures, strained relationships, health battles, or the pain of loss. Each of us faces hardships that can feel overwhelming, but the Bible teaches us many ways to remain joyful always!
Biblical Ways to Maintain Joy Even in Oppression:
1. Rejoice in the Lord, not circumstances
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4
2. Sing and praise (even through suffering)
“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” James 5:13
Acts 16:25 shows Paul and Silas praising God even in prison.
3. Remember God’s presence in trials
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
4. Fix your mind on God’s peace
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3
5. Look to eternal reward
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17
Now let’s look at how the Bible shows us how to respond to oppression and to those who cause it.
1. Do good to enemies
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
2. Wait for God’s justice
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
3. Overcome evil with good
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21
4. Find strength in Christ
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
5. Pray and commit your situation to God
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
In verse 10, Elihu observes that many oppressed people cry out for deliverance but they don’t seek God Himself. True joy and peace come from turning to God, not just asking Him to remove hardship.
• Psalm 42:8 – “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
• Again, I think of Paul and Silas praying and singing while imprisoned.
God has given us wisdom and understanding to seek Him rather than merely react like animals in distress (Job 12:7–10; Psalm 32:8–9).
Next, we see where Elihu teaches that prayers may go unheard when pride or sin dominates the heart: I found some other verses that support his claim…
• Proverbs 1:28–29 – “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer… For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.”
• Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
• Isaiah 59:1–2 – “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”
God does not ignore us out of cruelty; He desires humility, repentance, and a heart that truly seeks Him.
Job 35:14 points out that even if Job feels he cannot see God, His justice is always present and we should trust Him.
Habakkuk 2:3 says “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Psalm 37:5–6 says “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
Key Takeaway for Job Chapter 35:
Even in oppression or confusion, joy is possible when we:
1. Rejoice in the Lord.
2. Sing and praise.
3. Seek His presence, not just relief.
4. Trust His justice and eternal plan.
5. Commit our struggles and our oppressors to Him.
God is always just, His peace is sure, and His grace is sufficient for every hardship.
Elihu’s speech focuses on how God uses circumstances and sometimes suffering to instruct, correct, or draw people closer to Him. He stresses that God is just, mighty, and wise beyond human understanding.
In Job 36:5–7 Elihu explains God’s justice and power.
“Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous…”
Let’s look at some scripture that supports what Elihu is saying:
• Psalm 33:5 – “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”
• Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
We can trust that God sees both the wicked and the righteous. When life feels unfair, this reminds us that God’s justice never fails, even if we don’t see it immediately.
Next, Elihu describes how God uses discipline and instruction through suffering. (Job 36:8–10)
“And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.”
Here are some additional scriptures that support this:
• Hebrews 12:6, 10–11 – “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth… “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness…”
• Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
God sometimes allows hardship as discipline. He doesn’t do it to destroy us. He does it to correct and refine us. Instead of asking “Why me?” we can ask “What is God teaching me through this?”
In Job 36:11-12 Elihu talks about the choice between obedience and rebellion.
“If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.”
Let’s look at some scripture that supports this:
• Deuteronomy 30:19–20 – “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…”
• Isaiah 1:19–20 – “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword…”
Our response to God matters. We can choose to walk in obedience and experience His blessing, or resist Him and suffer the consequences of rebellion.
Elihu makes the statement that God’s greatness is beyond our understanding. (Job 36:26)
“Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.”
• Isaiah 55:8–9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD…”
• Romans 11:33 – “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
Even when life doesn’t make sense, we can trust that God understands what we never could.
Here are some simple truths for us to reflect on and remember…When life feels unfair, remember God sees everything clearly, and His justice will prevail. When we face trials, consider that God may be using them to grow us, correct us, or draw us nearer. When we’re tempted to doubt, we can trust His wisdom, even when we don’t understand His ways. In our choices, obedience to God brings blessing and peace and rebellion brings sorrow.
Takeaway from chapter 36:
Elihu’s words in Job 36 significantly line up with the rest of Scripture. While we still must consider his words carefully (since later God Himself will set the record straight), what he says about God’s justice, discipline, and greatness is consistent with biblical truth.
When Elihu speaks in Job 37, he points out the majesty and power of God that’s revealed in creation. He describes thunder as God’s voice and lightning as the works of His hand. With just a word, God tells the snow to fall, the rain to pour, or the storm to roar and they obey Him perfectly. God alone rules the skies. No man has that type of power.
Even the animals have instincts given by Him to take shelter when storms arise. There is order and purpose behind it all, whether we can see it or not. Storms are not random. Verse 12 points out that clouds and winds turn “round about by his counsels.” They move where He directs. They carry out His purposes which may be to bless, to correct, or to display His power. The same rain can be a blessing for one and devastation for another, yet in all cases, it fulfills the sovereign will of God.
Elihu reminds us that God’s wisdom is far beyond ours. At times, it feels difficult to approach Him because we are sinful and so small compared to His majesty (v. 19). But this recognition keeps us humble. Elihu closes the chapter with this truth: “He respecteth not any that are wise of heart” (v. 24). God is not impressed with human pride or self-sufficiency. True wisdom is to bow low before Him, fear the Lord, and turn from evil (Proverbs 3:7).
We may not understand the storms that come into our lives, but we can trust that God is directing them and has a plan. Just as He controls the weather, He is also in control of the details of our lives. Our role is not to reason against Him but to rest in His wisdom and power.
Life Application:
• When storms (in life or in nature) come, remember: God is not absent. He is actively working His purposes.
• Humility is the starting point of true wisdom. The more we recognize our weakness, the more we can lean on God’s strength.
• Instead of asking “Why?” in the storm, we can ask “What is God showing me about Himself through this?”
Journaling Questions:
1. How have I seen God’s power displayed in creation recently?
2. What storms in my life do I need to trust God’s wisdom in right now?
3. In what areas of my life am I tempted to lean on my own wisdom instead of fearing the Lord?
4. How can I practice humility before God today?
Overall Takeaway:
When life feels unfair, overwhelming, or confusing, we can rest in God’s justice, trust His discipline, and marvel at His power. The storms in creation remind us that nothing is outside His control. True wisdom is not found in our own understanding, but in humbly fearing the Lord and trusting His sovereign hand.
PS: I’m so excited for next week’s devotion because we finally get to hear what the LORD Himself says about all that has been happening with Job. I can’t wait to see how God’s words will bring clarity, wisdom, and perspective to everything we’ve studied so far!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for allowing us another week to study your word together. Help us practice our memory verse this week so that we can have Your words hidden inside our hearts. Help us to trust in you with all of our hearts instead of depending on our own understanding. We ask that You will guide us each day. Help us to remember that You know what we cannot see and that You are working it out for our good! Help us to not rely on our own knowledge, but rely on Your word to guide our choices. Give us patience when we desire a different timeline. Help us to choose humility over pride, obedience over rebellion, and counsel over independence.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 9th week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 12 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 32 – 34
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 32- “Elihu Speaks”
Chapter 33- “Deliverance from the Pit”
Chapter 34- “God is Always Just”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only.” – Job 34:29
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 32
“Elihu Speaks”
(Read Job Chapter 32 First)
In Job 32, Job’s three friends Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar stop speaking because they believe Job is only righteous in his own eyes. Then a young man named Elihu joins the discussion. He is upset with Job, thinking Job may be claiming righteousness for himself. At the same time, Elihu is frustrated with Job’s friends because, in his eyes, they have not adequately answered Job or provided true wisdom.
Elihu begins by acknowledging his youth. He says essentially, “I am young and you are old, so I was hesitant to speak at first. But I have been listening carefully, and I cannot remain silent any longer. God has given me understanding, and I must share what I know.”
As you read the next couple of chapters of Job you will see why having discernment is so important. Discernment means listening carefully, considering your words and the words of others with care, and testing everything against God’s Word. Sometimes people may sound confident or wise, but that doesn’t mean everything they say is true. Like Job’s other friends, Elihu does give some truth and wisdom but not always in the right context concerning Job. Elihu’s speech reminds us of the need for discernment.
Reflection Questions / Journal Prompts:
1. How do I usually respond when someone sounds confident or bold? Do I automatically assume they’re right, or do I pause to consider their words?
2. When was a time I believed something that sounded wise but later realized it didn’t align with God’s Word? What did I learn from that experience?
3. What practical steps can I take to grow in discernment? Consider these ideas…
Study and Meditate on Scripture Daily
God’s Word is the ultimate standard of truth. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” – Psalm 119:105
We can practice this by reading, highlighting, and memorizing Scripture regularly to train your mind to recognize truth.
2. Pray for Wisdom and Understanding
God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – James 1:5. We can begin each day with a prayer asking God to guide our thoughts and decisions.
3. Test Everything Against God’s Word
Not every teaching or advice is from God. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21. When we hear teaching, compare it to Scripture before accepting it as truth.
4. Seek Godly Counsel
Wise, mature believers can help clarify things. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14. We can ask trusted pastors, mentors, or mature friends for guidance when facing decisions.
5. Keep a Teachable Heart
Pride blocks discernment; humility opens you to God’s guidance. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” –Proverbs 9:10. Try to approach every lesson, correction, or challenge with a willingness to learn rather than defend yourself.
6. Observe Life and Consequences
God often reveals truth through experience and reflection. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” – Hebrews 5:14. Reflect on past decisions and notice patterns that confirm God’s principles.
4. How can I tell the difference between my own opinions and the truth of God’s Word?
5. Why is discernment especially important in a world where so many voices compete for my attention?
6. Who in my life can help me test what I hear against Scripture and keep me grounded in truth?
Sometimes silence is wiser. Other times, courage is required to share truth. Today, I encourage you to ask God for discernment in knowing when to speak and when to wait.
In Job 33, Elihu steps forward to speak after Job’s three friends fall silent. Elihu is young, but he believes God’s Spirit has given him understanding. He pleads with Job to listen, assuring him that he is only a man like Job, not God Himself, so Job does not need to fear him. Elihu sees his role as an interpreter who can bring God’s perspective into the conversation.
He reminds Job of something important: God is greater than man. He believes Job had spoken as if God were treating him unfairly, but Elihu challenges that thought. God is not unjust, nor does He need to answer to us. His wisdom far surpasses ours.
Elihu explains that God often speaks in ways people don’t understand. This could be through dreams, through warnings, or through suffering. Verse 16 says, “Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.” In other words, God knows how to get our attention, and when He does, He impresses His lesson firmly on our hearts. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child to correct them, God sometimes allows hardship to draw us away from sin or pride and back to reliance on Him (v.17). I love the promise in Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” When I focus my mind on Him, I can experience His perfect peace… even in the middle of trials.
Verses 18–22 describe a person wasting away without God. Maybe they are lost or backsliding, but there is hope: in verses 23–24, Elihu speaks of a messenger, “an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness.” He says God will be gracious and provide a ransom, delivering that person from the pit. This points us toward Christ, the true Mediator and ransom for our sins. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” John 14:6 says “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” I am so thankful that through Jesus, anyone who has wandered or feels distant from God can be restored and brought into a right relationship with Him.
The result of God’s saving work is restoration: We can experience renewed strength, answered prayer, joy in God’s presence, and a life transformed by grace. God’s mercy rescues us even though we do nothing to deserve it.
Elihu closes by urging Job to listen and learn wisdom. While Elihu himself is not perfect, this chapter gives us a glimpse of how God uses both discipline and deliverance to bring people back to Himself and how ultimately Christ fulfills the role of the true Ransom and Mediator.
Journal Prompts / Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of a time when God had to “open your ears” to get your attention? What did He teach you through it?
2. How do you usually respond to God’s discipline? Do you have resentment, fear, or gratitude? Why?
3. Elihu speaks of a ransom (v.24). How does this foreshadow what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross?
4. In what ways has God restored joy, peace, or strength to you after a season of struggle?
5. Where in your life might God be calling you to rely less on yourself and more on Him right now?
In Job 34, Elihu continues his speech by calling the “men of understanding” to listen. He compares the ear to the mouth by explaining that just as our mouth tastes food to see if it is good, so our ears should discern whether what we hear is good and true (v.3). 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” That raises an important question for us: Are we discerning about what we take in? Just because someone is speaking about God, or even quoting Scripture, doesn’t mean what they’re saying is true. Like Job’s friends, it can sound wise and yet be misleading. We must measure everything we hear against God’s Word.
Elihu reminds everyone of Job’s complaints: Job insists that he hasn’t sinned, but God has denied him justice. Elihu accuses Job of speaking carelessly, saying his words sound like those of the wicked (vv.5–9). Elihu misrepresents Job’s words, but he does bring up something important: our words matter. In his suffering, Job’s words about God may have been sliding into dangerous territory. The same can happen to us if we’re not careful. In our pain, we can begin to speak in ways that misrepresent God’s character.
Let’s look at two verses about the power of the tongue:
Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
James 3:5 explains, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”
Elihu does speak truth about God’s character. He reminds us that God is always just. This truth is mentioned throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 32:4 tell us that “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Psalm 89:14 says, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” The problem is not with Elihu’s view of God, but with how he applies it to Job’s situation. Elihu assumes that Job must have done something wrong because he is suffering. That part was incorrect. We, too, need to be careful not to take a true statement about God and misapply it to someone’s life. God’s justice is perfect, but we don’t always see the full picture of how it works out in His timing.
These statements remind us of something important: we are completely dependent on God for life, justice, and truth.
• “Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness” (v.10).
• God gives each person according to their deeds (v.11)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7).
• He created the world, He sustains our very breath (vv.13–15), and He rules in perfect justice (v.17).
• No one is hidden from Him; He sees all people the same, whether rich or poor (vv.18–20). Hebrew 4:13 reiterates this. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
One verse that excites me is Job 34:29: “When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” What a comfort! If God grants peace, no one can steal it from us. People may try, circumstances may rattle us, but His peace is sure. Philippians 4:7 says “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
On the other hand, if He hides His face, no one can find Him. That’s why repentance and humility are so important! We need God’s presence more than anything else.
Elihu ends harshly, sounding much like Job’s other three friends. He claims Job should be tried more, because his words sound wicked (vv.35–37). This shows Elihu’s error: he was right about God’s justice, but wrong in how he applied it to Job. He failed to offer compassion or recognize Job’s true righteousness, which God Himself later affirms.
Here is a challenge for us this week:
• Discern what you hear. Just as you wouldn’t eat spoiled food, don’t swallow every word spoken about God without testing it against Scripture.
• Guard your words in suffering. Pain can tempt us to say things that misrepresent God. Ask Him for strength to hold fast to His truth, even when life feels unfair.
• Rest in God’s peace. If God has granted you quietness, no one can take it away. Trust Him to be your peace, no matter what surrounds you.
Key Takeaway:
God is always just, but we must be careful not to misapply His truth. Our words matter and our greatest security is found in God’s peace, which no one can take away.
Heavenly Father,
We want to ask You today to help us practice discernment. Thank You for Your Word that we have as an “answer key” to compare what we hear to what You say is correct. Help us to keep a humble, teachable heart so that we are open to Your guidance. Help us discern when to speak and when to wait. Thank You for giving us peace even sometimes in the middle of trials. Thank You for being our ransom and mediator. Help us to remember that what we say matters and we have the power to speak life and death…Help us to always choose to speak life. Thank You for your peace that no one and no circumstance can take away from us. Help us to rest in it.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our eighth week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 11 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 29 – 31
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 29 – “Don’t Take Your Blessings for Granted”
Chapter 30 – “The Depths of Job’s Grief”
Chapter 31 – “Living with Integrity Before God”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” – Job 31:6
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 29
“Don’t Take Your Blessings for Granted”
(Read Job Chapter 29 First)
Job continues his speech in chapter 29 by reminiscing about just a few months earlier when his life was good and easy. Reading this made me stop and think how often do I take my own life for granted? On the days when I feel overwhelmed with endless housework and the constant care of everyone around me, it’s easy to lose perspective on how very blessed I am. But oh how things could be much worse. I need to remember this, even on the messy, overstimulating days, and praise God for His protection and blessings.
In verse 4, Job says something that really stood out to me: “When the secret of God was upon my tabernacle.” This is a picture of being in close fellowship with God and walking in His inner circle. Job had intimacy with the Lord. Before tragedy struck, his children were around him. Everything he touched seemed to prosper. Younger men respected him, and older men revered him. He was known for lifting people’s spirits and being a source of help when someone was in need (v.13).
Then verse 14 really spoke to me: “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.” Job wasn’t righteous in himself. He had to put it on like clothing. That image makes me think of how we get dressed each morning. Just as we put on earthly clothing, we need to “put on” spiritual clothing too. Each day we must invite God to cover our flesh with His righteousness, asking anew for His Spirit to lead us and not our own strength.
Job continues describing his life before suffering. He was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, a father to the poor. If he didn’t know an answer, he sought it out. He defended the weak and stood against the wicked. In verse 18, he says, “I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.” Job thought his life would always remain stable and secure, ending in peace at home.
Then verse 19 paints another picture: “My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.” Roots make me think of stability, grounding, and protection. Job’s roots weren’t just in the dirt, they were spread out by the water, in the best possible place for nourishment and refreshment. The dew all night long symbolized constant replenishment. What a picture of Christ in us! The true Living Water who sustains and strengthens our roots day and night!
Job goes on to describe the respect others gave him. Verse 23 stood out to me: “They waited for me as for the rain.” To others, his words were refreshing, life-giving, full of truth and wisdom. People longed for his counsel like dry ground longs for rain.
Reading this chapter, I can imagine how Job must have longed to return to that life. But the greater lesson for me is this: don’t take the blessings of today for granted. Even in the ordinary days, even in the tiring days, God’s presence and favor are gifts. My prayer for myself and for you is that we will choose to clothe ourselves in His righteousness daily, root ourselves in His living water, and offer life-giving words to those who need refreshment, just as Job once did.
In Job 30, the contrast with the previous chapter could not be greater. In chapter 29, Job remembered the honor, respect, and blessings he once enjoyed. But here, he describes how everything has changed. Now, even the younger people who once looked up to him, laugh at and mock him. These were the same men who used to be outcasts, poor, despised, and driven into the wilderness. Job says he wouldn’t have trusted them even to watch his sheepdogs (v.1). Yet now, in his suffering, they are the ones scorning him.
He felt deep humiliation. Job once stood in dignity, but now the lowest of society feel free to ridicule him. In verse 11, he says, “Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.” Job feels like God has allowed his life to unravel, and since He has lifted His hand of blessing, people don’t even try to hide their disrespect anymore. They insult him openly with taunting and belittling.
From verse 15 onward, Job pours out how much he is suffering. He remembers being revered, but now he is filled with terror and misery. His body is consumed with pain. His bones feel pierced at night, his clothing hurts against his skin, his boils make him miserable. He feels like God has thrown him into the wind, tossing him about until he disintegrates. He longs for the grave, but it feels like his suffering will drag on endlessly. He cries out to God saying, “Didn’t I do good? Didn’t I grieve for the poor? Didn’t I help the troubled?” (v.25). Yet instead of blessing, Job feels only grief, turmoil, and loneliness.
This chapter is heavy. Job is brutally honest about how crushed he feels. And maybe you’ve been there too. Maybe not with boils covering your skin, but with pain that doesn’t let up, with people who mock or misunderstand you, with prayers that seem unanswered, with the weight of loneliness pressing down.
What can we take from Job’s words?
• It’s okay to be honest with God. Job didn’t hide his feelings. He laid out his pain and confusion. God doesn’t rebuke him for this. He can handle our honesty too.
• Seasons change. Job 29 and Job 30 remind us how quickly life can shift. Good days may give way to hard days. But just as seasons change, God is faithful to carry us through until the light shines again.
• God’s silence is not God’s absence. Job felt unheard, but the truth is God was still watching, still present, still writing the rest of Job’s story. The same is true for us.
Maybe today feels like a Job 30 season that’s heavy, painful, and lonely. If so, let this chapter remind you: God has not abandoned you, even if it feels that way. He is still holding the cord of your life, and though you may feel tossed by the wind, He has not let you go.
Job 31 is Job’s closing defense of his integrity. He begins by declaring a covenant he made with his eyes. He made a deliberate choice to guard himself from lust and impurity (v.1). He recognized that adultery is destructive, he explains that its like “a fire that consumeth to destruction” (v.12). He understood that righteousness wasn’t just about outward actions but inward purity too.
Throughout the chapter, Job responds to the accusations of his friends. He makes it clear: he hasn’t oppressed the poor, ignored the widow, or taken advantage of the fatherless. Why? Because he knows he is accountable before the same God who formed every human being (v.15). To disregard or dismiss the complaints of the vulnerable would be to sin against his Maker.
Job also didn’t let his heart be drawn away from God. He didn’t place his hope in riches, rejoice in wealth, or worship the creation of the sun, moon, or stars. His confidence was in God alone. He refused to rejoice at the downfall of his enemies (v.29–30) and was generous in opening his home to the poor (v.32).
By the end, Job wishes there were a written record of his case. He’s so confident of his innocence that he would carry the accusations like a crown (v.35–36). His life was an open book before God. He essentially says, “If I have sinned in these ways, let judgment fall on me. But I know I have walked with integrity.”
Job 31 challenges us deeply: Can we say the same? Do we live in such a way that if something false were said about us, no one would believe it?
Let’s look at how we can apply what we’ve learned into our own lives:
Like Job, we are called to live with integrity before God. Integrity means wholeness or being the same person in private as we are in public. Job wasn’t perfect, but he pursued righteousness intentionally.
For us today, this could look like:
• Guarding our eyes and hearts from impurity.
• Treating others with dignity, especially the poor, the weak, and the overlooked.
• Refusing to put our trust in money, status, or success.
• Choosing kindness over vengeance, even toward enemies.
• Keeping our lives “an open book” before God.
Living this way doesn’t guarantee people won’t misunderstand or accuse us. Even Job’s friends thought the worst of him. But it does mean we can stand before God with a clean conscience.
Journaling Prompts:
1. Have I made any “inner covenants” with God to guard my heart and walk in purity? If not, what is one I could begin today?
2. In what ways do I need to shift my trust away from wealth, possessions, or self-reliance and back onto God?
3. Is there anyone I’ve despised, ignored, or treated as “less than” whom God is calling me to see through His eyes?
4. Could I honestly say my life is an “open book” before God? What areas might I be hiding?
I challenge us this week to…
Choose one specific way to practice integrity. Maybe that means setting a boundary for what you watch or read, committing to speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable, giving to someone in need without telling anyone, or praying daily for someone who has hurt you. Write it down, commit it to God in prayer, and take one intentional step each day to follow through. Here’s some examples of what that could look like.
• Guard your eyes: Write it down, pray for self-control, identify and avoid triggers, and pause to ask God before engaging with anything that might pull your heart away from Him.
• Speak truth even when it’s hard: Pray for courage, find one opportunity to speak honestly and kindly, act on it, and reflect on what God taught you.
• Give quietly to someone in need: Ask God to show you who needs help, bless them without seeking recognition, and journal how it felt to give secretly.
• Pray for someone who has hurt you: Commit to praying for them daily, ask God to soften your heart, and note any changes in your own attitude or peace.
Write your chosen challenge down, commit it to God in prayer, take one intentional step each day, and reflect on how He is working in your heart.
Key Takeaway:
Job’s final defense reminds us that integrity isn’t about being perfect but about being wholehearted before God. Its about guarding our hearts, treating others with dignity, and keeping our confidence in Him alone. When we live this way, even if others misunderstand us, we can stand before God with a clean conscience.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the many blessings that you’ve given to us so freely even though we are undeserving and may sometimes take them for granted. I pray we would be more mindful and appreciative of all you’ve done for us. Lord, we desire for the the secret of God to be upon our tabernacle as it was for Job, so that we may experience that close fellowship with You everyday. Lord, help us to ‘put on’ Your righteousness like we do our clothing. We can’t rely on our own strength, but we need You guiding us through each day. We desire to be rooted by Your living water so that you can nourish and sustain us and give us life giving words to give to others. Help us in our challenge this week to build our integrity. I pray that you will guide us in an area that needs work in our lives. Help us to make those intentional steps to grow.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our seventh week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 10 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 24 – 28
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 24 – “When Justice Feels Delayed”
Chapter 25 – “God Is Great, We Are Small”
Chapter 26 – “Job Declares God’s Greatness”
Chapter 27 – “Job’s Final Defense of His Integrity”
Chapter 28 – “The Treasure of True Wisdom”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “And unto man he said,Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Job 28:28
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 24
“When Justice Feels Delayed”
(Read Job Chapter 24 First)
Job 24 opens with Job wrestling with a deep question: If God sees and knows all, why does it seem like He delays His justice? Job is struggling with what many of us have felt watching people live in sin and selfishness while their lives appear to flourish, and wondering why God doesn’t step in right away.
In verses 2–11, Job lists the wicked acts of people who oppress, neglect, and exploit the poor. They take what isn’t theirs, push aside the vulnerable, and even profit from their suffering. And yet, the cries of these oppressed people seem unanswered.
Can you relate to that? Have you ever prayed for God to act in a situation of injustice and felt like He stayed silent? Maybe you’ve tried to live in obedience, only to see others who ignore God’s ways seemingly prosper. That’s exactly where Job’s heart is here. He’s torn between his trust in God’s justice and his struggle to understand God’s timing.
This chapter challenges us to understand the tension that Job felt. It’s not wrong to bring these hard questions to God. In fact, it can deepen our faith when we do. As we read, we’re invited to notice how Job is brutally honest in prayer and that’s something God can handle from us, too.
In Job 25, Bildad gives his final speech, and he packs it with truths about God’s greatness and our smallness. He reminds Job that God is the source of fear, dominion, and peace. His power is unmatched, His armies are countless, and His sight misses nothing. No one is hidden from Him.
While Bildad’s words about God’s majesty and man’s unworthiness are true, we must remember his speech comes in the context of wrongly accusing Job. Even truth can be misused when applied without compassion or discernment.
Bildad’s main point is: If even the moon and stars, creations we see as pure and beautiful, are not pure in God’s sight, then how much less is man, who is sinful by nature? Bildad compares humanity to a worm, highlighting how enormous the gap is between God’s holiness and our fallen state.
When we really think about this truth, it humbles us. It takes away any illusion that we can “plead our case” before God based on our own goodness. We are reminded that only through His mercy and grace, not our goodness, can we stand before Him. This is why Jesus’ sacrifice is everything for us. Without Him, we are unworthy; with Him, we are made righteous.
Job begins by challenging Bildad’s supposed wisdom with some sarcastic questions. Essentially, he’s asking, “If you know so much, how have you actually helped the weak or the helpless? How have you saved those without strength? How have you counseled those with no wisdom?” It’s a good moment for us to pause and think…when we speak to others about God, are our words truly helping them, or are we just showing off what we know?
From there, Job turns our attention to God’s unmatched power. Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing in the depths of the earth and nothing in the vast heavens. Job paints picture after picture of God’s authority: He hangs the earth on nothing, holds oceans in their boundaries, and stores water in clouds without them bursting. He commands the seas, marks the horizon, and has authority over all creation.
Together, we can let this passage stir our awe. The God who can do all these things is the same God who sees us, hears us, and holds our lives. And yet, Job says we’re only catching a tiny glimpse of His greatness.
So what does that mean for us this week? It means we can trust Him even when life feels uncertain because His power is limitless, His wisdom is perfect, and His vision sees far beyond our own. It means when we feel weak or without answers, we don’t need clever speeches from friends; we need to go straight to the One who hangs the earth on nothing. And it means we should speak to others from a place of compassion and truth, pointing them to God’s greatness instead of our own knowledge.
This week, I challenge you to do two things:
1. Spend intentional time reflecting on God’s greatness. Each day, take a few minutes to read Job 26:5–14 slowly. Let your mind picture the images Job describes…the earth hanging on nothing, the seas contained, the horizon set in place. Then thank God for His unmatched power and the fact that He cares for you personally.
2. Be mindful of how you speak into someone else’s struggle. Before you offer advice, pause and pray. Ask yourself, Will my words bring help, hope, and truth? Or will they simply display what I know? Let compassion and God’s truth guide your conversations.
By doing these two things, you’ll be practicing what Job’s words invite us to do which is keeping our eyes fixed on God’s power while also keeping our words and actions full of grace.
“Job’s Final Defense of His Integrity”
(Read Job Chapter 27 First)
Job begins this chapter acknowledging that God has allowed all his trouble, yet he affirms that God’s Spirit still lives within him. Even in his pain, Job pledges not to speak wickedness or deceit, even though he longs to justify himself to his friends. He will not lose his integrity.
Do we still care about integrity today?
Integrity is a choice we make to remain innocent, upright, morally whole, and consistent in character.
For Job, “mine integrity” means:
• Moral uprightness before God. He has lived in obedience and reverence.
• Honesty about the truth.He refuses to falsely admit guilt just to end the argument.
• Inner wholeness. Staying true to himself before God without hypocrisy.
In other words, Job is saying:
“I will never lie and say you are right about me being a secret sinner. I will hold fast to my innocence and honest walk with God until the day I die.”
This is not pride. It’s a commitment to truthfulness and righteousness under pressure.
Let’s break down Verses 8–10: The Hypocrite’s Hopelessness
Verse 8 – “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”
• A hypocrite lives a double life. They pretend to serve God while secretly in sin.
• Any earthly gain is worthless when God requires his life.
Verse 9 – “Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?”
• When hardship strikes, the hypocrite can cry out, but God may not respond favorably because the relationship wasn’t real to begin with.
This implies that God listens to those who are sincere, but may not to those who only turn to Him when desperate.
Verse 10 – “Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?”
• The hypocrite does not truly love God. He seeks Him only for benefits.
• He will not continually seek God in both good times and bad.
Here’s the big picture:
Job contrasts himself with the hypocrite. His friends’ accusations don’t fit him. He has a genuine relationship with God, which is why he refuses to let go of his integrity.
Now, let’s break down verses 11–23: The Ultimate End of the Wicked
In these verses, Job will try to teach his friends what they should already know…that the end of the wicked is destruction.
• Their children may be many, but some will die by violence, others will go hungry.
• They will not be mourned when they die.
• Their riches and fine clothing will end up in the hands of the righteous.
• Their homes are flimsy and temporary.
• Fear and judgment from God will overtake them, and they will be cast away.
I want to point out one thing that confused me, so I did some research for clarification…
Job is speaking of the ultimate outcome of the wicked and not necessarily what their life looks like here and now. Earlier (Job 21) he observed that the wicked can prosper temporarily and even die peacefully. Here, he affirms that God’s justice will still come in His timing.
• (Avon) – moral crookedness, guilt; the sin and its consequences.
Greek (New Testament):
• (Ponēria) – depravity, deliberate evil, harmful intent flowing from an evil heart.
Let’s explore what the Bible says about wickedness.
• Psalm 10:4 says “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
• Proverbs 6:16–19 says “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
• Isaiah 55:7 says “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
• Romans 1:29 says “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”
According to God’s Word, wickedness is not just outwardly evil actions, but a heart that rejects God. It shows up in pride, lying, violence, deceit, lust, envy, selfish ambition, and hatred. The wicked may prosper for a season or even die in peace, but their lives are marked by separation from God. They will ultimately face God’s righteous judgment. Yet, in His mercy, the Lord invites the wicked to forsake their ways and return to Him, promising abundant mercy and forgiveness.
Job begins this chapter by painting a picture of human skill and determination. Men dig into the earth, braving dark, dangerous places, even controlling underground waters, just to uncover silver, gold, iron, and precious stones. They explore places unseen by birds, animals, or any human foot to bring what was hidden into the light. Job uses this imagery to make a powerful point: while man can uncover earthly treasures, true wisdom is far more precious and cannot be mined or bought.
Wisdom is not found in the land of the living for us to dig up. Its value surpasses even the finest jewels, yet its source is entirely from God. God knows the way to wisdom; He measures the winds, weighs the waters, controls the rains, and brings order to the world. In the end of this chapter, Job told us God’s own definition of wisdom:
“Behold, the fear of the Lord is wisdom: and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Job 28:28
Let’s see how we can apply Job 28 to our own life:
1. Seek wisdom from God and not the world.
• Just as miners labor to find treasure, we must be intentional in seeking God through prayer, Scripture, and listening to His Spirit. But unlike earthly wealth, wisdom comes as a gift from the Lord when we surrender our lives to Him.
2. Value what is eternal over what is temporary.
• True wisdom surpasses gold and silver. Pause and ask yourself: Are you chasing your “right now” desires or are you seeking God’s perspective in your decisions and relationships?
3. Fear the Lord daily.
• The “fear of the Lord” is a reverent awe, a recognition of His power, and a willingness to obey Him. This daily routine opens our hearts to understanding and guides us away from sin.
4. Trust God’s timing and guidance.
• Wisdom cannot be rushed or manufactured. As we grow in relationship with God, He gently reveals insight for the choices, challenges, and opportunities of each day.
Reflection Questions:
• What areas of your life do you need God’s wisdom for right now?
• Are there decisions or problems you’re trying to “figure out” on your own instead of seeking God?
• How can you cultivate a daily fear of the Lord that leads to understanding?
• Do you value God’s wisdom more than worldly success or possessions?
Key Takeaway:
Trust God’s timing, hold fast to integrity, and seek His wisdom above all else. Remember…what is hidden from the world is revealed to those who fear the Lord.
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for another week of us coming together to study and learn from You through the book of Job. We saw this week that we must trust Your timing even when we feel that justice is not being done in our eyes. We must bring those hard thoughts to you when we have questions. We see just how worthy You are of our praise as Your majesty and greatness are revealed to us in Your Word. We thank You for Your mercy, grace, and sacrifice for us. Lord, help us with this week’s challenge to keep us in awe of your greatness and to pray about our intentions before we offer others words of advice. Let compassion guide us this week. Help us to seek wisdom from You through a surrendered life, keep our minds focused on eternal things, fear and obey You, and trust Your timing and guidance.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our sixth week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 9 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 21 – 23
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 21 – “The Prosperity of the Wicked”
Chapter 22 – “Eliphaz’s Final Rebuke”
Chapter 23 – “Reflecting on Your Connection with God”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. – James 4:8
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 21
“The Prosperity of the Wicked”
(Read Job Chapter 21 First)
Job begins by asking his friends to really listen carefully to what he’s saying. He’s exhausted, misunderstood, and trying to explain a deep frustration many of us can relate to: “You’re not hearing me.”
That immediately made me ask:
Have I ever felt unheard or misjudged by people who were supposed to support me?
Yes. And it helped me empathize more with Job.
Then Job shifts. He challenges their assumptions: that the wicked always suffer and the righteous always prosper. Job essentially says, “Look around. We’ve all seen wicked people live long, successful, peaceful lives. He’s pointing out some hard truth.
When Job says in verse 7, “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?”This was Job deconstructing a false belief: that suffering is always a direct result of sin.
From there, I noticed a key shift in verse 16:
“Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.”
Even though Job sees the wicked prospering, he doesn’t want to follow their path. That stood out to me. It’s easy to envy success, but Job keeps his heart aligned with God, even when life feels unfair.
Then I came to verse 17:
“How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.”
That verse humbled me. God may allow some to prosper for a time, but ultimately He judges with perfect justice. And when it is time for Him to distribute sorrow, it’s not random. He always has a purpose.
This made me ask:
What makes God angry?
I took time to look that up in Scripture, and here’s what I found:
• Idolatry
They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger – Deuteronomy 32:16
• Injustice
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? Isaiah 10:1-3
• Complaining
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his wrath was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp – Numbers 11:1
• Rebellion
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king – 1 Samuel 15:23
• Pride
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood Proverbs 6:16-17
• Sexual sin
Even the souls that did after the filth of those things, and the souls that did abominable things,
I will even blot out of my people that day, and ye shall bear your iniquities, and shall know my breach of promise Leviticus 18:27-28
• Religious hypocrisy
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood– Isaiah 1:13-15
• Breaking covenant
The Shepherds that feed my people wrongfully, that cause them to err, my
people, that hear not my word; yea, they that cause them to forget my law,
must be sprinkled with blood, and punished with burning flame – Jeremiah 22:9
It reminded me that I need to examine what pleases or displeases the Lord.
In verses 23–26, Job contrasts two people who live and die very differently but end up in the same grave. That truth hits hard. Our external lives may look very different, but God alone knows the heart and handles the judgment.
Let’s Reflect:
• Am I more focused on appearances or on the state of my soul?
• Do I trust that God will deal justly, even when I can’t see it yet?
Lastly, Job calls out the false thinking of his friends and yet stays humble, letting God be his defender. He doesn’t let their flawed views define his reality.
That’s a model for me. I want to respond with honesty, but also with restraint. Let God speak for me.
Final Thought for This Chapter:
Job teaches us that real wisdom doesn’t come from assumptions. It comes from listening, seeking truth, and trusting God’s justice.
In Job 22, Eliphaz speaks for the last time in this debate, condemning Job and calling him to repentance with promises of blessing if he turns back to God. He begins with rhetorical questions:
• Can a wise man truly benefit God?
• Does God gain anything if a man chooses to live righteously?
• Does God judge because He fears someone’s power?
Eliphaz’s implication is that Job’s righteousness (if real) doesn’t make God indebted to him, so his suffering must have another explanation like hidden sin.
Let’s dig deeper into these questions:
God Doesn’t Need Us, but He Delights in Us
In Job 22:2–3, Eliphaz asks, “Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?”
Eliphaz’s tone is harsh, and his aim is to accuse Job, but tucked inside his words is a truth: God is entirely self-sufficient. As Paul preached in Acts 17:24–25, “God that made the world and all things therein… neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
The Almighty does not depend on our strength, wisdom, or righteousness for His existence or power. Yet, in His grace, He takes pleasure in His people when they walk in obedience. Psalm 147:10–11 reminds us, “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”
God’s delight isn’t in what we can “give” Him but in our humble, faithful hearts. Micah 6:8 says, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Reflection Prompt:
Take a moment to consider if you serve God with the quiet joy of knowing He delights in you, or are you secretly trying to earn His favor as though He needs what you have? Rest today in the truth that while God doesn’t need you, He chooses to love you.
Eliphaz’s Accusations Against Job:
Without proof, Eliphaz accuses Job of “great wickedness” and “infinite sin,” listing offenses that cut deep:
1. Unjust loans – Taking pledges (collateral) without cause, burdening those who didn’t deserve it.
2. Exploiting the poor – Stripping the needy of clothing, leaving them exposed.
3. Withholding kindness – Refusing food and drink to the weary and hungry.
4. Abusing influence – Using power and wealth to secure land, pushing aside those without.
5. Neglecting widows and orphans – Turning away the most vulnerable in society without help.
Eliphaz paints Job as a man who gained wealth by oppressing people. We know this is a complete contradiction to Job’s real character.
The Consequences Eliphaz Describes:
According to Eliphaz, because of these supposed sins:
• Job is surrounded by traps.
• He lives in fear and darkness.
• His troubles are drowning him.
• He thinks God can’t see him, but God sees all from heaven.
Eliphaz reminds Job of history and how the wicked have faced judgment before:
• Their lives were cut short.
• The flood destroyed those who claimed they didn’t need God.
• Even if their houses were once filled with good things, their end came.
He insists that the righteous rejoice when the wicked fall (again implying Job should accept his suffering as deserved judgment).
Eliphaz’s Call to Repentance:
In the final portion of his speech, Eliphaz urges Job to:
• “Acquaint yourself with God” and return to Him fully.
• “Stop sinning” so that good will return to his life.
• Enjoy restored blessings like riches, God’s protection, answered prayers.
• Teach others that purity and humility lead to God’s favor.
God’s grace isn’t a simple formula: “Repent, and blessings come.” Sometimes, suffering isn’t punishment but part of a deeper process of growth and faithfulness.
So, while Eliphaz’s call to repentance contains biblical truth (we all need to turn to God), we must balance it with compassion, humility, and trust that God’s ways are higher than ours.
Job openly expresses how heavy his heart feels, how distant God sometimes seems, and his deep longing to reach Him. Have you ever felt that way? Like you’re crying out, but God feels far away, or maybe you wonder if He even hears you?
That’s a very real part of many believers’ journeys. Job’s story encourages us that feeling distant doesn’t mean God has abandoned us. Instead, it’s often an invitation to examine our hearts and take steps to reconnect.
Take a moment to ask yourself:
• When have I felt closest to God? What was happening in my life or in my heart during those times?
• When have I felt distant or burdened? What might have contributed to that feeling?
Practical Steps to Draw Near to God:
Review the reasons listed below and honestly consider your current walk. Which ones are you actively pursuing? Which might you need to focus on more?
Ways to Draw Near to God:
Obedience to God’s Word
If ye love me, keep my commandments – John 14:15
• Regular, heartfelt prayer
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded – James 4:8
Praise and worship
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel – Psalm 22:3
Fellowship with other believers
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching – Hebrews 10:25
Meditating on Scripture daily
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee – Psalm 119:11
This Week’s Challenge:
After looking at these ways to draw near to God, I want to challenge you to begin weaving them into your daily habits and routines.
• Set aside time for prayer every day.
For me, this often happens in the morning during my devotion time, and a lot of times in the evening on my walk. Find a time that works for you and guard it carefully.
Commit to regular church attendance.
If you don’t have a home church yet, make it your goal this week to visit one and see if it’s the right fit for you. Being part of a body of believers is an important way to stay encouraged and accountable. If you already have a church then commit to being there every week.
Spend time in God’s Word daily.
I personally love reading from my physical Bible first thing in the morning, before the day gets busy. You might prefer reading at night before bed. The exact time isn’t as important as making it a daily habit.
The goal is not to “check the boxes,” but to intentionally create space in your life for God. As you draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to you.
Things That Can Hinder Our Connection:
• Unconfessed sin
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me – Psalm 66:18
• Neglecting prayer
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint – Luke 18:1
• Worldly distractions
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful – Matthew 13:22
• Doubt or lack of faith
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him – Hebrews 11:6
• Spiritual laziness or complacency
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises – Hebrews 6:12
Reflect on these truths:
• Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” reminds us that God directs our hearts like a river’s flow. Sometimes God softens hearts; other times, He troubles them to bring us back to Him.
God influences not only our hearts but also how we present ourselves to the world.
Ecclesiastes 8:1- Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
Numbers 6:26 – The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Yet, God invites us to respond by drawing near to Him and guarding our hearts carefully.
Reflect and Journal
Consider these questions:
• What might God be doing in your heart right now? Is He drawing you near, convicting you, or giving you peace amidst hardship?
• Can you recall a time when God changed your heart? Maybe softening it toward Him or troubling it to bring you back? How did that experience shape your faith and walk with God?
Journal Prompt:
Write about a moment when God worked in your heart in a powerful way. How did you respond? What did you learn about God and yourself through that experience?
Key Takeaway:
Even when life feels unfair and God seems distant, our calling is to stay faithful, trust His justice, and draw near to Him. Job reminds us that prosperity or suffering is not always a measure of righteousness. God’s ways are higher, His justice is perfect, and His presence is worth seeking above all else.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the many little nuggets of truth in Your Word that You teach us each day that we can apply in our lives. Like Job, we know we will face difficult people and hard circumstances we don’t understand. I pray that even when life seems unfair, our hearts would stay aligned with You. Help us understand what grieves Your heart so we can avoid those things.
When we face difficult people, give us honesty but also restraint and help us speak wisely and trust You to defend us. And God, when we feel distant from You, remind us to examine our hearts and see what might be causing that loss of connection.
Thank You for Your Word, which guides us every step of the way. Help us reflect on and apply these truths from today’s study, so we grow closer to You each day.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our fifth week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 8 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 17 – 20
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 17 – “You, My Friends, Have No Wisdom”
Chapter 18 – “Truth Without Love Hurts: The Wrong Way to Help”
Chapter 19 – “My Redeemer Lives”
Chapter 20 – “Search Me, O God”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — Psalm 139:23–24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 17
You, My Friends, Have No Wisdom
(Read Job Chapter 17 First)
As I read Job 17, I notice right away that Job feels completely spent. He says his spirit is broken and the grave is ready for him. That tells me just how low he’s feeling emotionally and physically. Job is expressing despair and weariness.
Then, I see that even in that place of suffering, Job is still dealing with his friends’ accusations. In verse 3, he turns to God and asks Him to “put me in a surety.” He’s saying, “God, please vouch for me.” Job asks God to be his advocate because no one else believes him.
In verse 4, Job says that God has “closed the minds” of his friends. I wonder why would God allow that? I think Job is recognizing that wisdom is a gift from God, and maybe he’s saying his friends don’t have that insight right now. We can use this lesson to help us remember to pray that the Lord can help us not to be blind like Job’s friends. Help us understand with grace, not just with opinion.
Let’s explore what God’s word has to say about wisdom:
1. Wisdom Comes from God
• James 1:5
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Wisdom is available through prayer. God gives it generously when we seek it.
• Proverbs 2:6
“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
True wisdom doesn’t originate from man, but from the Lord Himself.
2. The Fear of the Lord Is the Foundation
• Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
• Job 28:28
“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
Reverent awe of God is the starting point for a wise life. It’s not just knowing what is right but wanting to live in light of who God is.
3. We Must Seek It Diligently
• Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
• Proverbs 2:3–5
“Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”
Wisdom requires intentional pursuit like searching for treasure.
4. Wisdom Is Shown in How We Live
• Ecclesiastes 7:12
“For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.”
James 3:17
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
Wisdom isn’t just smart words. It shows up in gentleness, peace, and godly behavior.
How to Obtain Wisdom:
1. Ask God for It – James 1:5
2. Fear the Lord – Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28
3. Read and Apply Scripture – Psalm 119:98
“Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”
4. Walk with the Wise – Proverbs 13:20
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise…”
5. Humbly Receive Correction – Proverbs 9:9
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser…”
When I get to Job 17:9, it feels like a shift. Job says that the righteous will hold to their way and grow stronger. That’s encouraging. Even when everything falls apart, I can grow stronger if I hold tightly to what’s right.
But then verses 11–16 hit hard again. Job swings back into hopelessness. He talks about the end of his plans, the darkness, the grave. This is grief. Job is going back and forth between hope and despair. That’s actually kind of comforting. It shows me that even the most faithful people can feel both at once. Job doesn’t give up, but he doesn’t hide how hard this is either.
So as I close the chapter, here’s what I’m walking away with: Job’s pain is real, his hope flickers for a moment, but his desire to stay righteous is unwavering. That gives me permission to be honest with God when I’m struggling, and to keep clinging to Him even when I don’t feel hopeful.
In Job 18, Bildad speaks again and wow, does he come in hot. He doesn’t just offer a rebuttal to Job’s perspective; he starts with insults:
“Are you ever going to stop talking, Job? Are we nothing more than unclean animals to you?”
He mocks Job’s grief and anger, as if Job’s suffering is offensive to him. Bildad’s whole speech is one long assumption: that Job is wicked and getting exactly what he deserves. He paints a terrifying picture of the fate of the wicked. They shall live in darkness, fear, weakness, abandonment, destruction, and drives it home with one clear implication: This is you, Job.
Take a moment to reflect:
Have you ever felt wrongly accused by someone who claimed to be helping you?
What emotions did that stir in you? Did you feel hurt, shame, frustration, defensiveness?
Bildad’s words are said with cruelty, not compassion. Honestly, this doesn’t even qualify as “tough love.” It’s more like jealousy wrapped in moral superiority, with a bitter undertone of “I can’t believe this happened to you, but I’m not sad about it.”
Reading this made me stop and ask myself:
How do I talk to people especially when they’re hurting?
Sometimes, even with good intentions, we can come across as harsh or condescending. We want to correct, to teach, to “help”, but our tone makes the other person feel small instead of seen. I especially think of this when I talk to my kids. What I mean as a life lesson can easily come off as criticism.
Journal Prompt:
Think about someone you’ve recently tried to “correct” or teach. Maybe your child, a friend, or a spouse. How do you think your tone came across?
Is there anything you wish you had said differently or not at all?
Let’s try something together. Here are a few “Say this instead of that” examples to reflect on:
Instead of saying this… “Why do you always do this?”
Try saying this… “I’ve noticed this keeps happening. Can we talk about why?”
Instead of saying this… “You’re being ridiculous.”
Try saying this… “I hear that you’re upset. Help me understand.”
Instead of saying this…“Well, maybe if you had listened…”
Try saying this…“I’m here for you. Is there something you need from me right now?”
Reflection Question:
How might changing your tone and word choice help bring healing instead of shame to someone in your life?
Let’s use Bildad’s failure as a mirror to learn from his mistake. We are called to speak truth in love not in sarcasm, not in superiority, and not in bitterness. Jesus shows us how to correct with compassion, confront with humility, and comfort with gentleness. Ephesians 4:15 says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
This verse reminds us that truth must be delivered in the context of love, not harshness or pride. The goal is growth, for ourselves and the person we’re speaking to, into Christlikeness.
Job responds to Bildad with raw honesty. He doesn’t hold back. He says, in essence:
“How long will you keep wounding me with your words? Aren’t you supposed to be my friend? Even if I have sinned, that’s between me and God. You don’t have the right to tear me apart.”
He’s heartbroken by his physical suffering and by the way people close to him have responded. He feels abandoned, judged, and completely alone.
Reflection Question:
Have you ever felt misunderstood or hurt by someone who was supposed to support you? How did that affect your view of God or yourself?
Job says that God has torn down everything in his life, including his hope. He describes crying out to God and hearing nothing in return.
“He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.” (v.8)
“He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.” (v.10)
His grief is so thick that he feels like even his ability to hope is gone.
I wonder if you’ve ever felt like something important was removed from your life? I know I have…Something you used to carry with ease, but now feels out of reach. Maybe it was a sense of peace, the ability to rest, joy in worship, or the strength to pray and believe like you once did.
Job says that his hope has been uprooted, and there are seasons where many of us can relate to that feeling. No matter how hard we try to grasp what we once had, it seems distant like it slipped through our fingers without explanation.
Journal Prompt:
What’s something in your life you feel has been “removed”? Is there something you once had…hope, peace, trust, connection…that now feels far off? Write about it honestly. Talk to God about it like Job did.
Job goes on to describe how every relationship has crumbled. He says his own wife and close family members are disgusted by him. He feels like he’s barely hanging on to life.
“My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.” (v.20)
But then Job’s tone shifts. Despite all of this pain, he proclaims something bold and faith-filled:
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” (v.25)
What a declaration! He may not understand why he’s suffering, but he knows his Redeemer is alive. He trusts that one day, God will make things right, and he will see Him with his own eyes, even after his body has wasted away.
Reflection Question:
Can you recall a time when your faith in God stood firm even when your circumstances made no sense? If not, how can Job’s faith encourage you to trust that redemption is still coming?
At the end, Job turns the focus back to his friends. He warns them not to be so quick to judge, reminding them that they don’t see his heart, but God does. He urges them to consider their own motives and to beware of judgement coming upon them.
“But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?” (v.28)
*Side Note – We will see that Job was right here and God does judge and discipline the friends later in Job Chapter 42
Reflection Question:
Have you ever assumed something about someone’s situation without knowing their heart? How can Job’s story remind you to lead with compassion instead of conclusions? In Job 42, God rebukes Job’s friends for misrepresenting Him and falsely accusing Job. What does that teach us about the seriousness of speaking on God’s behalf or judging others without full understanding? How can you practice more grace and humility in how you view someone else’s suffering?
Zophar’s harsh speech in Job 20 paints a sobering picture of the fate of the wicked. He claims that even if someone seems successful and joyful in their sin for a time, their end will be full of sorrow, loss, and judgment. Though we know Job was not guilty of such wickedness, Zophar’s assumptions stand as a clear warning against jumping to conclusions without truly understanding someone’s heart. This theme keeps surfacing throughout Job, reminding us that God cares deeply about how we treat others and how quickly we judge.
As you reflect on this chapter, take time to consider what Scripture says about true justice, the consequences of sin, and the danger of pride. Zophar may have missed the mark in applying these truths to Job, but the principles still offer insight for our own lives.
Real-Life Application:
• While Zophar was wrong about Job, his words still raise a question: Am I hiding anything in my life that I need to bring into the light?
• It’s easy to see the flaws in others and forget our own need for humility,
repentance, and grace.
• Sometimes, we may even find ourselves assuming that hardship = judgment. But Job’s story reminds us again that suffering isn’t always the result of sin.
Reflection Questions / Journal Prompts:
• Have I ever assumed someone was being punished for something I couldn’t see? What does this reveal about my view of God and suffering?
• In what ways have I been tempted to chase short-lived joy rather than lasting righteousness?
• Is there anything I’m holding onto, like pride, hidden sin, or bitterness, that could be stealing my peace or distancing me from God? If so, what step can I take today to bring it into the light and let God begin healing it?
Psalm 139:23–24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Take a few minutes to quietly ask God to search your heart. Write down anything He brings to mind…attitudes, habits, or thoughts that may be hurting your relationship with Him or others. Then pray over each one, asking for His help to surrender it.
Today’s Challenge:
Today, choose one thing you’ve identified, whether it’s pride, bitterness, or a hidden struggle, and take one intentional step toward healing. That might look like confessing it to God, making peace with someone, or talking to a trusted friend or mentor.
This Week’s Challenge:
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal any assumptions or judgments you’ve made toward others or even toward yourself.
Then, take one intentional step to show compassion:
• Speak encouragement instead of criticism.
• Offer help instead of assumptions.
• Ask someone how they’re really doing…and truly listen.
Also, ask the Lord to search your own heart:
“Is there anything I’ve been clinging to that seems sweet in the moment but is harming my walk with You?”
Write it down. Bring it to the Lord. And trust Him to replace it with His peace.
Key Takeaway:
God sees beyond appearances. He knows our hearts. As we walk through pain, confusion, or misjudgment like Job, may we respond with humility, seek wisdom from above, and let God search and shape our hearts. While others may get it wrong, God never does, and He invites us to extend to others the same compassion and grace He shows to us.
Heavenly Father,
I’m in awe of your power. You can so easily bestow upon us wisdom if we seek it according to your word. As we go through our day today, help us to mind our tone. Remind us to lead and correct our children and others in love, not harshness. Help us to speak truth in love. As we continue through the book of Job, we keep seeing the same theme pop up. This tells me that You really want us to understand that You care deeply about how we treat others and how quick we are to judge. Help us to surrender anything in our lives that may be hurting our relationship with You and others.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our fourth week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 7 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 14 – 16
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 14 – “When Hope Feels Cut Down”
Chapter 15 – “Don’t be that Friend”
Chapter 16 – “Miserable Comforters Are Ye All”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
– Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 14
“When Hope Feels Cut Down”
(Read Job Chapter 14 First)
Job’s honesty with God challenges me. He’s not hiding his grief, frustration, or even his confusion. He’s still talking to God even if his words are raw and heavy. That encourages me to do the same. When I’m overwhelmed or hurting, I don’t have to clean up my feelings before I come to God. I can just come.
One part of this chapter that really stood out was how Job looked at nature to make sense of his pain. He noticed how a tree cut down can sprout again, and for a second, I thought he was feeling hopeful. But as I read more closely, it seemed like he was actually longing to be able to recover like the tree, to continue. Instead, when I read further I realized he felt stuck in hopelessness, convinced that man dies and that’s the end. His sorrow ran deep.
Still, I can relate to Job in that pull toward nature when things are hard. I’ve felt that desire before to get outside and talk to God surrounded by what He’s made. Somehow it quiets the noise and reminds me that He’s still present, even when I don’t understand.
Job’s words are painful, but they’re also real. He felt like God had turned against him, like all hope was gone. And while I know the end of Job’s story, that God restores him, I don’t want to rush past the ache in this part of the journey. Because sometimes, we’re in that part too. And it’s okay to bring it all to God. We can bring every question, every doubt, every word. Job did. And God never stopped listening.
Application Thought:
I love to walk almost every evening after dinner, mostly, just along the trails through our woods. That quiet time helps me slow down, pray, and really talk to God. I feel more connected with Him in those moments. Maybe you could try that too this week.
As we read through Job 15, we see Eliphaz jump back in to respond to Job. He questions Job’s words, accusing him of speaking things that are pointless and unhelpful. Eliphaz seems frustrated and says, in essence, “Why are you talking like this? It’s not doing any good.” But from our perspective, we know that Job is in deep pain, trying to process everything he’s just lost. His words might sound dramatic or even irrational but who wouldn’t be shaken after all he’s endured?
These chapters are filled with poetic language and can be hard to understand. I’ve found that using the Blue Letter Bible app is really helpful when I want to dig into the original meanings of certain words. It helps to give a clearer picture.
Eliphaz goes on to accuse Job of sin, saying, “Your own mouth condemns you.” He basically tells Job: You’re showing your guilt by the way you speak. Then he challenges Job further: What do you know that we don’t? Why won’t you let God comfort you? Why are you speaking this way and turning from Him?
Eliphaz admits that no one is righteous. We are all born of a woman, unclean, and sinful. He even says that we drink sin like water. Then he gives a long speech describing what happens to wicked men: they may appear to succeed for a while, but pain and destruction will come. They’ll live in fear, hunger, trouble, and darkness. In the end, they’ll have no home, no wealth, and no hope.
The problem is that Eliphaz assumes Job is that kind of man. He believes Job must be wicked because of the suffering he’s facing. But as readers, we know the truth: Job isn’t being punished for sin. He’s being tested.
Just like Job, there may be times in life when others assume the worst about you. Maybe they think you’re to blame for something you didn’t do, or they misread your pain as weakness, sin, or failure.
It could be:
• A friend thinks you’ve ignored them on purpose, but really you were just overwhelmed.
• Someone gossips about you at church or work, twisting your words or motives.
• A family member lashes out, blaming you for something that wasn’t your decision or fault.
When that happens, your natural reaction might be to defend yourself angrily, get bitter, or try to make them feel guilty. But you will see Job’s response in chapter 16 shows a different way. He has a heartbroken honesty before God, not lashing out, but turning to the One who knows the truth.
Here’s the application:
When people wrongly accuse you, remember this:
• God sees the full truth, even when people don’t (Job 16:19 — “Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.”)
• You don’t have to clear your name in everyone’s eyes. You can rest in God’s perfect judgment.
• Don’t let hurt drive you to become bitter or cold toward others.
• Use your pain as a reminder to never do the same to someone else. Don’t assume you know someone’s full story.
Sometimes we do exactly what Eliphaz does. We see someone suffering and jump to conclusions. We assume that if someone is going through a hard time, they must have done something wrong. We might even try to give them Scripture, not to comfort or point them to hope, but to correct or accuse.
Eliphaz speaks some true things. He says that no one is perfectly righteous before God, but he wrongly applies those truths. He assumes Job is the wicked man he’s describing, without knowing the full story. How often do we do that too? How quick are we to speak when we don’t really understand someone’s situation?
God doesn’t call us to be like Job’s friends. He calls us to be His. And our God is “full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11). So before we offer advice, we should ask ourselves:
• Am I trying to help or trying to be right?
• Do I really know the whole story?
• Is this a moment for truth, or a moment for comfort?
In Job 16, Job responds to his friends’ harsh and judgmental words. He calls them “miserable comforters,” expressing the deep pain of not only his physical suffering but also the emotional pain of being misunderstood. He says that if the roles were reversed, he would choose to comfort them with compassion. Job feels that God is pouring out His wrath on him, even though Job insists he has remained pure in his prayers. His suffering is so intense that it’s physically changing his appearance, and he pleads for someone to advocate for him before God. Still, he finds a glimmer of hope in knowing that his witness is in heaven.
Guided Questions:
Can you relate to Job’s feelings of being misunderstood or abandoned?
What does Job wish his friends would do for him instead of criticizing him?
– Have you ever needed comfort and received judgment instead? How did that affect you?
Verse 5 says, “But I would strengthen you with my mouth.”
– How can your words strengthen someone who is hurting?
– Can you think of someone in your life right now who needs kind words?
Job expresses that God seems distant or even harsh toward him.
– Is it okay to tell God when we feel hurt or confused by His actions?
– Have you ever felt this way and how did you work through those emotions?
In verse 19, Job says, “Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven.”
– What does this say about Job’s faith in the midst of his suffering?
– How can we cling to the truth that God sees us when others misunderstand us?
– This verse helps me when I feel misunderstood or misrepresented by others. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” — 1 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)
Job ends this chapter with thoughts of death and relief from pain.
– When life feels overwhelming, where can we turn for lasting hope and comfort?
– How can we be that comfort to others?
Let’s look at some verses Showing how God Comforts:
1. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
God comforts us so that we can pass that same comfort on to others.
2. Isaiah 66:13
“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
God’s comfort is tender, like a mother’s love.
3. Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
He draws near to the hurting and broken.
4. Psalm 147:3
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
God doesn’t ignore pain. He personally tends to it.
5. Isaiah 49:13
“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.”
God’s comfort is tied to His mercy and causes great joy.
6. Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Even in life’s darkest valleys, His presence brings peace.
Life Application and Challenge:
Job said he would “strengthen” and “soothe” his friends with his words (v. 5).
What are some practical ways you can comfort a friend who’s hurting today?
• A meal
• A handwritten note
• A prayer text
• Simply being present in silence
Key Takeaway:
True comfort doesn’t come from fixing someone’s pain or figuring out why it happened. It comes from sitting with them in it. Job’s story reminds us that God welcomes our honesty, even when we’re confused or broken. It also challenges us to be better comforters. Instead of rushing to correct or explain suffering, let’s be the kind of friends who strengthen with our words, listen with empathy, and point others to the One who sees it all.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being the ultimate comforter. Thank You for giving us Your word to learn from. Today, the Bible has shown us the kind of friend we don’t need to be and how to look at You and the ways You comfort. We can emulate Your ways if we allow You to teach and guide us. We are challenged and motivated to be someone’s comforter this week. Help us to be available and willing to help. We love You, thank You, and praise You for all You’ve done for us.
The Georgia Nest 