Daily Devotional from Job 21--Verse 7“Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?”That sums up this whole chapter: ‘Why do the wicked prosper, while I, a righteous person, am slammed into the ground?’ When we are faced with calamities that seem unfair or undeserved, a sure way to drive ourselves mad is to focus on ‘Why’.We don’t always get to know the reason. Sometimes there’s...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 20--In Zophar’s second response to Job, we again see his very linear mindset that good people will have good lives, and wicked people will suffer. And when Zophar encountered a circumstance that could suggest otherwise–like Job’s suffering without a clear cause–he clung to the belief that only wicked people suffer. It’s certainly human nature to think that way, and even t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 19--Verse 21“Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!”Have you ever wanted to help a grieving friend but didn’t know what to say?Sometimes not knowing what to say—or thinking we know the answers–isn’t what our loved ones need. Job’s friends wanted to help, but their “help” ended up being wrong and didn’t comfort Job.Trying ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 18--Verses 1-4“Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: ‘How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak. Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight? You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place?’”Job is a broken and burdened man. Bilhab is trying to convince Job t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 17--Job is in despair, hopes dashed, finding no comfort from his friends, longing for death and the grave. Our need for God is made obvious by trials and troubles. We can “take fresh courage to persevere from the example of suffering Job. The image is from a warrior acquiring new courage in action” (Charles Spurgeon).In Isaiah 40:29-32, we see that the Lord gives power to...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 16--Verse 4“I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place;I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.”It’s easy for any of us to judge someone who is going through a hard time. It’s easy to try to problem-solve and think we know why those hardships are happening. Sometimes we need to turn off our problem-solving and just lend an ear. Job’s fr...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 15--Verse 11“Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?”In this chapter, we see Eliphaz trying to confront Job. Ironically, he insists that he is speaking gently while being rather ungentle. Eliphaz thought he was helping Job, but instead of relieving his suffering, he deepened it.One of the dangers for religious people is becoming ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 14--Verse 1“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.”In response to his friend’s accusations, Job enlightens them to the reality that life is short–and it’s not easy. In fact, Jesus promised us we would face trouble. In John 16:33 (NIV), it says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”Life will not be easy. J...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 13--Verse 24 (CSB)Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? Have you ever walked through a considerable difficulty and felt that God was far away? Maybe you feel as if God has turned his back on you? That maybe he considers you as his enemy instead of loving you like he’s supposed to? It is difficult in the moment to see beyond our suffering. In this passage, ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 12--Verse 13“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.”In his conversations with his “unhelpful” friends, Job wasn’t defiant; he was confident in his belief and his limited knowledge of God. He trusted God beyond his circumstances. When my problems want to overwhelm me, I look at Job. He just kept believing and trusting in the God he knew, and that ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 11--Verse 6b“Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.”Zophar did not beat around the bush. Eliphaz and Bildad (the first two friends) passively implied that Job had done something to deserve the suffering he was going through. Zophar, on the other hand, said in effect, “God is being merciful to you! You deserve so much worse, you wicked man!” We cou...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Job 10--Verse 2“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.’”Job wants to know why bad things are happening to him, in spite of his lifestyle of righteousness. And he wants it to stop. His friends believe he must have sinned but has forgotten. Thus, this judgment has come upon him, and he deserves it.We know that in life, bad things happen t...  Read More