*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 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 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.
There won’t be a new post or devotion next Monday, July 21st. Our church is hosting a week-long Bible Camp, and I’ll be serving there all week! Because of that, I won’t have the time or focus needed to write and prepare a full devotion. Thank you for understanding, and I’m already looking forward to jumping back into our study the following week!
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our third week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 6 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 10 – 13
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 – When Suffering Doesn’t Make Sense
Chapter 11 – Assumptions Wrapped in Advice
Chapter 12 – When Wisdom Is Twisted and Suffering Is Misunderstood
Chapter 13 – Faith That Speaks Up
(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 — Job 13:15 (KJV):
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 10
When Suffering Doesn’t Make Sense
(Read Job Chapter 10 First)
This chapter really moved me. It feels like Job is praying straight from a place of soul-crushing grief and yet he doesn’t turn away from God. That alone speaks volumes.
Job starts by saying that his soul loathes life. He’s physically suffering and emotionally and spiritually worn down. But even in this dark place, he’s still talking to God. And he says something incredibly brave: “Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.” Job is asking God to help him understand what’s going on. Have you ever been in the place where the pain is so thick that you cry out, “God, why?”
He starts asking honest questions:
– “Are You seeing me like man sees me?”
– “Are You judging me without knowing the full picture?”
– “You made me with so much care and love, so why are You destroying me now?”
Job reminds God that He was the one who formed him from the dust, the one who knitted together every part of his being. And then comes verse 13, which stopped me in my tracks…
“And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.”
Job doesn’t understand what’s happening, but he trusts that God does.He believes God has hidden purposes tucked inside His heart.
He says that whether he’s wicked or righteous, the outcome of grief feels the same. He feels hunted and beaten down. He honestly pleas with God again: “Why was I even born? Wouldn’t it have been better to never have existed than to live through this?”
And yet… he keeps talking to God. That, to me, is the most beautiful and powerful part. He’s confused. He’s hurting. He feels God’s silence. But he keeps the line of communication open.
This chapter reminded me that it’s okay to pour out our pain to God. It’s okay to ask Him hard questions. God didn’t strike Job down for saying these things. He listened.
Now we hear from another one of Job’s friends, Zophar, and once again, we see the same pattern: assume guilt, offer advice. But Zophar doesn’t hold back. He even starts the conversation with accusation.
Zophar is offended by Job’s words and essentially says, “Should your many words go unanswered? Should your talk make you right?” He accuses Job of lying, mocking God, and pretending to be pure when clearly (according to Zophar) he’s not.
He says something that sounds true on the surface: God’s wisdom is far greater than anything we can comprehend (Job 11:7–9). That truth echoes throughout Scripture (see Romans 11:33), but Zophar misuses it. Instead of using God’s greatness to encourage or comfort, he uses it to accuse and condemn. OUCH!
He claims that Job is actually being punished less than he deserves (v. 6) This is a bold and deeply wrong assumption. We know from Job 1:8 that God called Job “blameless and upright.”
We learn here that there is no simple formula. Zophar offers a theology built on if-then logic: If you suffer, you must have sinned. If you repent, God will bless you. But Job’s story challenges that thinking. His suffering wasn’t the result of wrongdoing, and repentance wasn’t the quick fix his friends claimed it would be.
Instead, we’re reminded that God’s ways are deeper than formulas. There are things happening in our lives that we are not equipped to fully understand. Faith doesn’t mean everything will make sense. It means trusting that God is working, even when it doesn’t.
Let’s pause and reflect together:
• Have you ever been given advice that was based on a false assumption about you or your situation?
• Have you ever made the same mistake of jumping to conclusions about someone else’s suffering?
• Zophar spoke from what he thought he knew. How can we be more thoughtful, gracious, and humble when walking with others through pain?
Zophar’s words remind us that even truth, when misapplied, can wound rather than heal. As we study, let’s not just learn what was said, but consider how we speak to others in their hurt. We would do well to remember that comfort and compassion go hand in hand.
Devotional Thought:
I can’t help but notice that we keep hearing this same cycle over and over…
Job is being accused, again, that the suffering that suddenly invaded his life must be the result of hidden sin or wickedness. And Job, in the depths of his grief, is trying so hard to express that he has not sinned, nor does he have evil in his heart.
His friends offer no compassion, no curiosity, no grace. Just judgment.
It seems like God really wants us to slow down and let this truth sink in: when we walk alongside someone in pain, assumptions hurt but compassion heals. These chapters challenge us to listen better, judge less, and point people to God’s presence, not just our opinions.
When Wisdom Is Twisted and Suffering Is Misunderstood
(Read Job Chapter 12 First)
Now it’s Job’s turn to respond, and he doesn’t hold back. You can almost hear the sarcasm in his voice when he says, “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” (v. 2) In today’s language, that might sound like, “Wow, you must be the only wise people left and when you’re gone, wisdom’s gone too.” After sitting in so much grief, Job is finally standing up and speaking with a spark again.
He reminds his friends that he has understanding, too. He’s not beneath them. In fact, he says, “Who doesn’t know the things you’re saying?” Job is finally speaking to them about his frustration with their hollow theology. He’s been crying out to God, and instead of comfort, his friends mock and shame him.
Job points out something incredibly honest: sometimes the wicked do prosper. He says even those who rob and provoke God seem secure and blessed. His friends have been preaching a very narrow view: that good people are always blessed and bad people are always punished. But Job looks around and says, “That’s just not what I see.”
He challenges their assumptions by saying even the animals, the birds, the fish, and the earth itself could tell you that everything happens under the hand of God. Nothing slips past Him. Every breath we take is in His hands.
Then Job gets to the heart of it: we all have the ability to listen and discern. Just like the tongue tastes food, the ear tests words. And what he’s hearing from his friends? He knows it’s not truth. It’s oversimplified. It lacks compassion. And it completely misunderstands God’s power.
Job reminds them, and us, that wisdom and strength ultimately belong to God alone. Not to man. Not to kings or nations. Not even to those who sound confident when they speak. God alone holds the power to break down, build up, silence, flood, or dry up. He can humble leaders, silence the wise, and cause nations to rise or fall. He is sovereign over all of it.
Let’s Reflect Together:
• Job is frustrated by the assumption that his suffering must be his fault.
Have you ever been misunderstood in a painful season?
• Job says even creation knows that everything is in God’s hands.
Do you find comfort in remembering that God is ultimately in control?
• Job reminds us that God can humble the proud and lift up the lowly.
How does that challenge the way we view success, power, or status?
• How does this chapter help you reframe the idea that blessing = obedience and suffering = disobedience?
• What would it look like for you to trust God’s sovereignty, even when things feel unfair or confusing?
This chapter is a turning point. Job doesn’t have answers yet, but he knows that his friends don’t either. He’s beginning to anchor himself in what is true: God is wise, powerful, just, and always in control. Even when we don’t understand, we can rest in that.
In Job 13, Job continues to respond directly to his friends who have been accusing him and claiming to speak for God. He explains again that he is just as knowledgeable as they are and challenges their wisdom. Job expresses his deep desire to plead his case before God Himself, wanting to reason honestly and openly with Him.
He criticizes his friends for giving misleading advice. He compares them to doctors who cannot heal but only cause more harm. Job urges them to be silent so he can speak and explain his situation clearly.
Job boldly questions God, asking why he is being punished so severely, even considering that it’s for sins he committed long ago. He feels trapped and watched closely by God, as if under constant surveillance, suffering and deteriorating under this intense pressure.
Despite his confusion and pain, Job declares his intention to continue trusting God and maintaining his integrity. He is honest about his fear and suffering but still hopes God will listen and receive him.
1. Reflect on Your Response to Others’ Opinions
Job challenges his friends who speak for God but misrepresent Him. Have you ever been quick to judge or give advice without fully understanding God’s perspective?
• Take a moment to ask: Am I speaking words that build up, or am I like Job’s friends who give “useless advice” or speak out of ignorance?
• Action: Practice listening more carefully to others before responding, and ask God for wisdom before you speak.
2. Examine Your View of God
Job calls out those who hold a limited or false view of God’s justice and power.
• Ask yourself: Is my understanding of God shaped by my experiences or cultural views rather than His true character?
• Action: Spend time studying God’s nature in Scripture, especially His justice, mercy, and sovereignty.
3. Invite God into Your Honest Questions and Fears
Job openly pleads with God. He asks why he suffers, what sins might be hidden, and expresses his fear and confusion.
• Consider: Do I bring my doubts and fears honestly before God, or do I hide them?
• Action: Write down your current struggles or questions and pray them honestly to God, trusting that He can handle your doubts.
4. Trust God Even When You Don’t Understand
Despite feeling trapped and under intense scrutiny, Job chooses to keep walking upright before God and trusts He will receive him.
• Reflect: Can I commit to trusting God in my trials, even when I don’t understand why they’re happening?
• Action: Identify one area of difficulty in your life. Pray specifically for trust and perseverance to walk faithfully through it.
5. Seek God’s Guidance and Allow Him to Search Your Heart
Job asks God to search him and reveal anything that needs correction.
• Self-examination: Am I willing to let God search my heart, even if it’s uncomfortable?
• Action: Ask God to reveal any hidden sin or attitude that needs to change, and be ready to respond with repentance.
Key Takeaway:
In the midst of deep suffering and confusion, it is okay to wrestle honestly with God with questioning, pleading, and even expressing our fears. We must choose to trust His wisdom and justice beyond what we can see or understand.
Heavenly Father,
As we continue reading through Job, we’re thankful for all that You’re teaching us. Through his story, we learn what to do and what not to do. Thank You that even when we’re faced with difficult people, You can use those moments to teach us how we don’t want to act.
Lord, when we go through hard times, help us to trust that You still have a plan and that it’s for our good. Thank You for listening when all we can offer is our brokenness. Thank You for caring so deeply for us.
Please guide our words when we speak to those who are hurting. Help us remember that comfort and compassion go hand in hand. Make us better listeners and less quick to judge.
Let our words build up, not tear down. Help us to notice Your character as we read and study Your Word. Give us the courage to bring our hardest questions, doubts, and fears honestly before You.
And Lord, as we examine ourselves, reveal anything in us that needs healing or repentance. We bring it to You, trusting that You are faithful to restore.
*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.*
*(Remember) This is a once a week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.
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I Do – Watch Me Study
(Read Genesis Chapter 1 First)
This Week’s Memory Verse – “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2
As believers, we aren’t just called to believe in God; We’re called also to become more like him. We could never attain his power or perfection, but we can be transformed to reflecting his attributes. We are called to abide in Christ so that he can be fruitful in our everyday lives. (John 15:4) This is not about performance. When our hearts are fixed on God and we’re walking so close with him, then we will begin to mirror his character. Since we want to emulate the characteristics of God, let’s pay attention to them as we study today and then look at some practical applications we can use each and every day.
As we read through the first chapter in Genesis we find that in the beginning, everything was formless, empty and dark. This darkness covered the face of the deep. And then, God spoke.
He didn’t pick up tools or draw a blueprint. He simply spoke. And what wasn’t, suddenly was.
“Let there be light,” and there it was.
As I study this chapter, I notice several powerful attributes of God:
1. God is Creative
He desires to make something from nothing. An earth sized blank 3d canvas that he is going to magnificently paint. It’s also going to have moving parts. Its not just a stationary piece that we can look at in awe, but a real life creation that we will all utilize and be a part of.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
Because I am made in His image, creativity is already inside me. He gives ideas, imagination, and inspiration to those who seek Him.
Take a moment to read these verses that showcase God’s creativity:
In Genesis 1, we also see that God didn’t just create the earth, but He gave it the power to keep growing and producing life. He told the land to bring forth plants, and He placed seeds inside the herbs and fruit trees so they could reproduce on their own. He made the animals in the water, in the air, and on land, and gave them the ability to multiply and fill the earth. This shows me that God’s heart was for things to grow, flourish, and continue. He’s the ultimate source of all power, but He chooses to share it with His creation. He wanted the earth to be full of life, full of beauty, and full of His glory. It reminds me that while God is in control of everything, He loves to empower what He’s made to carry out His purpose.
Reflect on these Bible verses that show what God gives power to:
• The weak – Isaiah 40:29
• His people – Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 68:35
• For service and ministry – Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:6–11
• Over the enemy – Luke 10:19
• To reign – Daniel 2:37–38
• To Jesus Christ – Matthew 28:18
• To the Gospel – Romans 1:16
• To endure and overcome – 2 Corinthians 12:9
3. God is Intentional and Ordered
He doesn’t rush. He takes time. Day by day, one act of creation prepares the way for the next.
He gives names, assigns roles, and steps back to admire His work.
“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31
In a world that constantly pushes us to hurry from one thing to the next, I love that God models a slower pace. He shows us that it’s okay to take things one day at a time and work with purpose. When we pause to look back at what we’ve done, like He did, we can find joy in our efforts and say, this is good. It’s a beautiful reminder to slow down and be present with what God is doing around us and through us.
Now, we zoom in closer. God isn’t just creating environments; He’s forming people.
He forms man from the dust and breathes life into him. He places him in a garden to live and thrive. Then, He creates woman as a companion, not from new dust but from Adam’s side, showing the unity of relationship.
Let’s explore together:
• What do you see in God’s creation of Adam and Eve?
• What does His care, placement, and attention to detail show us about His nature?
• How does this shape the way you see your own purpose or relationships?
Reflection or Journal Prompt:
Where in your life have you seen God bring beauty from emptiness? How is He forming something in you, day by day?
After you reflect:
Did you notice that God placed Adam in the garden with responsibilities? He wasn’t there to simply exist. He was given a role. Genesis 2:15 says God put him there “to work it and take care of it.” Adam also named every living creature, participating in God’s creation in a meaningful way.
Then, God made a striking statement: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” God created Eve, not as an afterthought, but as a purposeful companion and helper. This tells us that God values both purpose and relationship. We were not designed to live aimlessly or alone.
Let’s reflect:
• Do you know what purpose God has for you right now?
• Are you actively living it out, or are you still seeking it?
• What about the relationships in your life—are you being intentional?
• Are there ways God is nudging you to invest deeper or forgive more freely?
God created us to have connections with Him, with others, and with meaningful work. Let’s ask Him to help us live purposefully and love intentionally.
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You Do – Apply It Personally
Now it’s your turn.
Read through Genesis 1–2 again slowly. As you read, ask yourself:
• What do I learn about who God is?
• What attribute of God am I most drawn to right now—His creativity, His power, or His intentionality?
• How can I reflect that part of God in my own life today?
Write it down. Pray through it. Talk to God because He’s your Creator and your loving Father.
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A Final Word
The same God who hovered over the dark void now hovers over your life. He still speaks light into darkness. He still forms purpose from dust.
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Key Takeaway
God is not a distant Creator. He is an intentional, present, powerful Father still at work in you.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for abiding in us. Help us to draw closer to You by immersing ourselves in Your Word, learning more about who You are, and letting Your character shine through our lives.
We praise You for the ways You’ve revealed Yourself in these first two chapters of Genesis as creative, powerful, orderly, and wise. Thank You for making us in Your image and for giving us purpose.
Lord, help us to walk in that purpose with confidence and joy. Teach us to honor You with our gifts, our time, and the relationships You’ve placed in our lives.
Strengthen our connections with others, and give us wisdom, humility, and grace in how we love and serve them.
Draw us closer to You each day, and may our lives reflect Your goodness.
I’m so glad you’re here! One of my greatest passions is studying God’s Word, and I want to invite you to come alongside me as I journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This devotion series is all about digging into scripture, chapter by chapter, and discovering how God’s truth speaks into our everyday lives. Whether you are new to Bible study or have walked this path for years, my prayer is that we grow together in faith, understanding, and grace.
God’s word is alive and active. It’s the tool He uses to speak to our hearts, guide our lives, and teach us how to be more like Him. As we go through this Bible study, let’s read the stories but focus on what God is teaching us that we can apply to our own story.
When I taught elementary school, we used a simple process to help my students grow: I do it first, then we do it together, then they try it on their own (you do), and finally we check in to see what they learned.
I believe we can approach God’s Word the same way. In this devotional series, I’ll walk you through how I read and reflect on Scripture. Then I’ll invite you to study alongside me, reflect on it yourself, and ask how it’s changing your life.
We’re not just learning facts, we’re becoming more like Jesus, one step at a time.
A note about this devotion journey – These devotions will be posted once a week, so you can move through them at your own pace. You may choose to do it all in one sitting or broken up over several days. Each devotion is built to help you slow down, go deeper in the word, and truly meet with the Lord.
Materials: A Bible. I use the King James Version. You will also need a fresh new journal set aside for this devotional journey. Throughout each week’s post, you’ll find questions, reflection prompts, and scripture to memorize and reflect on. Having a dedicated place to write your thoughts, prayers, what you’ve learned, and how you wish to apply it to your life will help you engage more deeply and make the most of each week’s devotion.
Each Week’s Devotion Will Include:
•Scripture Reading – A passage from the Bible. We are reading through the Bible in chronological order.
•Verse to Memorize – One key verse to hide in your heart and meditate on throughout the week.
•I Do Portion of Study – Watch how I study the passage and draw out God’s character, themes, and application.
•We Do Portion of Study – Let’s walk through the text together with questions and insights that lead to discussion and reflection.
•You Do Portion of Study – A time for you to study on your own, consider thoughtful prompts, and respond to what God is showing you.
•Final Word – A short devotional wrap-up to encourage and summarize the week’s focus.
•Closing Prayer – A heartfelt prayer to end your time with the Lord.
•Journal Prompts – These will be scattered throughout the devotion. Space to reflect, write, and respond to God personally.
I’m so excited to begin this study with you! It’s meant to not only grow your understanding of Scripture but also to help you apply what you’re learning to your daily walk with Christ. Whether you’re just starting out or have studied the Bible for years, there’s room here for you to grow.
Mark Your Calendar!
Week One of the Bible study will be posted on Monday, June 9, 2025. A new devotional will be shared every Monday, so you can start each week with Scripture, reflection, and encouragement. I can’t wait to grow in the Word together with you!
The Georgia Nest 