Tag: devotions

Week Six of the Devotional Series 

*Quick Note:

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.

And He still does.

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We Do – Let’s Study Together

Job Chapter 11

Assumptions Wrapped in Advice

(Read Job Chapter 11 First)

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.

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Job Chapter 12

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.

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You Do – Apply It Personally

Job Chapter 13

Faith That Speaks Up

(Read Job Chapter 13 First) 

Job Chapter 13 Summary:

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.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen