The Daily Dose

Formed and filled with purpose

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. ~ Genesis 2:7

Genesis 2 gives us a personal, up-close look at how God creates. Unlike the broad strokes of Genesis 1, this chapter zooms in to show how intentionally God formed Adam from the dust and breathed His own life into him. This isn’t random or distant, this is hands-on, purposeful, and filled with care.

I’ll never forget the first time I truly grasped that God didn’t just make me, He formed me. It was at a time that I was feeling deeply insecure, questioning whether I had anything unique to offer. I felt like everyone else had life all figured out while I was still waiting for clarity. During that time, I was reminded of this passage in Genesis chapter 2. It was then that I realized that God didn’t mass-produce people. He formed Adam, breath by breath, detail by detail.

He took His time sculpting every part of that first man, carefully shaping a creation that was both unique and deeply personal. And when He did, He also set in motion a pattern, ensuring that each individual who came after would be made with the same personal touch. That includes you and me. He formed us so He could know us, walk with us, and work through us.

That realization changed how I saw myself. I wasn’t created by chance. I was shaped with intention, breathed on with divine purpose. Even when I couldn’t see how all the pieces of my life fit together, I could trust the One who formed me knew exactly what He was doing.

The same is true for you, too.  You are unique and special too.  Your heavenly Father gave you gifts and abilities that no one else has.  He wants a close, daily relationship with you and has made a way for you to walk with Him through whatever you go through in life. Maybe right now you feel overlooked, uncertain about your direction, or like you’re just going through the motions. Maybe your life feels more like dust than destiny. But you can be assured today that the same God who formed Adam is still forming, still breathing, still working in you.

God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s shaping you in the quiet. He’s breathing strength into you even when you feel weak. He sees your potential even when you can’t see progress.

Here is how you can begin living with purpose through this truth:

1. Spend time with your Creator daily.
   Set aside time to just be with God, whether that’s through prayer, reading His Word, or journaling. This reconnects you with the One who formed you.

Pick a time each day (even 10 minutes) to read one chapter of the Bible and ask, “God, what are You forming in me today?”

2. Speak truth over your identity.
   Stop rehearsing lies that you’re not enough or don’t have a purpose. Replace them with God’s truth. Say out loud: “I am formed by God. I have His breath in me. I am here on purpose.”
3. Embrace the season you’re in.
   Growth takes time. Just like Adam had to walk in the garden before fulfilling his purpose, you may be in a season of being shaped before being sent. Trust that this time is part of your preparation.

Write down what you feel God might be shaping in your life right now.  For example: patience, trust, courage? Thank Him for what He’s building in you.

4. Look for ways to give life to others.
   You were formed and filled so you can pour out. Encourage someone else this week, speak words of life, or offer help where you see a need.

Today I want to encourageyou to remember that you are not forgotten, random, or without direction. You were formed by the hands of a loving God and filled with His very breath. That means your life has meaning right now, even if the full picture isn’t clear yet. Trust the process, walk with the One who made you, and rest in the truth that He never creates without purpose.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 2

1 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.

2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.

3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

4 This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

5 neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil.

6 Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land.

7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches.

11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush.

14 The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates.

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—

17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.

20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.

21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.

22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.

23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”

24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Journal:

• Where in my life do I need to remember that I’ve been formed by God and filled with His breath?
• What is one step I can take this week to walk in that truth?

Faith filled Words

Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ~ Genesis 1:3

Genesis 1 is more than just the story of creation, it’s a picture of God’s power to bring beauty, order, and purpose out of chaos. Verse 3, “Let there be light,” has always stood out to me. It was the first spoken word recorded in Scripture. Before the sun, before the moon, before anything else God simply spoke the word by faith, and light broke through the darkness.

There was a time in my life not too long ago that felt  like formless chaos. I had just walked away from something I deeply cared about, unsure of what was next. My thoughts were scattered, my confidence shaken, and my world felt dim. One morning, during my bible reading and prayer time, I opened to Genesis 1. It was a passage I had read countless times before, but this time, it hit differently. I read, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep.” That’s exactly how I felt. Then came the words, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’”

Right there, I realized something important: God doesn’t wait until everything is in order to speak into our lives. He speaks into the mess. Into the confusion. Into the dark. And when He does, light shows up.

Maybe you are going through a season in your life that fills void and lifeless.  Maybe you are up against a time of emptiness with no purpose.  If that is you today, be encouraged because the same God who by faith spoke the world into existence, wants to speak meaning and purpose into your existence.

Here are some practical ways you can experience that God’s light in your life:

1. Invite God to speak into your chaos.
   Don’t wait for everything to settle down before you seek Him. Ask Him right now to speak into the place that feels dark or empty. Write a simple prayer: “God, speak into my life today. Shine Your light where I can’t see.”
2. Start your day with His Word.
   Just as God began creation by speaking the words, begin your day by listening. Even reading one verse or a short passage opens your heart to His direction. Let His truth be the first voice you hear each morning.
3. Trust that He’s creating something good, even if you can’t see it yet.
   Creation happened in stages. God didn’t form everything at once. He took time and shaped each part with purpose. Your life may still be in the early “formless” stages, but He’s working.
4. Speak light over your situation.
   Follow God’s example. Speak words of faith, hope, and truth over yourself and your circumstances. Say, “God is not finished with me. Light is coming. Purpose is being formed.”

Today I want to encourage you that if God can speak light into literal darkness and shape a world through His faith filled words, He can speak into your situation to bring life, too. Whatever feels empty, void, or unseen, He sees it. He’s not done creating beauty in your life. So start fresh today. Open your heart, let Him speak, and watch what begins to take shape.

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 1

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

6 Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”

7 And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.

8 God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened.

10 God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened.

12 The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

13 And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.

15 Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened.

16 God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars.

17 God set these lights in the sky to light the earth,

18 to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

19 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”

21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

23 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened.

25 God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.

30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

Journal:

• Where in my life do I feel empty, dark, or unsure?
• Write out a prayer asking God to speak into that area and then listen.
• What might He be saying? Write it down.

When God finishes the story

“I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” — Job 42:2    

Oh wow!  We have reached Job’s final chapter, and verse 2 carries one of the most powerful statement in Scripture: God’s purpose will prevail. After all the loss, confusion, and silence, Job finally rests in this truth and discovers peace he could never have found by figuring everything out himself.

That truth has become deeply personal to me this year. I’ve walked through disappointments and closed doors I didn’t expect. I prayed, planned, and pursued what I believed was God’s path, only to watch opportunities slip away. I wondered, Did I miss Him? Did I take a wrong turn?

Then, during a quiet morning with the Lord, I opened to Job 42 and read: “No purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” I felt God whisper: You didn’t ruin My plan. I’m still at work, and I haven’t let go. In that moment the weight lifted. I realized these setbacks aren’t evidence of failure; they’re experiences God will use to encourage others who hit walls of their own.

Job 42 isn’t merely the end of Job’s story; it’s a roadmap for anyone navigating confusion or pain. Job repents— not because his sin caused his suffering, but because seeing God clearly silences every argument. The result? Restoration, renewal, and a deeper understanding of God’s goodness.

If you are going through a confusing or unclear season, here are some ways you can walk this truth out in your own life:

1. Stop trying to fix everything.
   There’s peace in letting go. If you’re striving to force things to work out, pause and surrender it to the Lord. Pray: “God, I trust that no purpose of Yours can be stopped, not even by me.”
2. Confess any pride or doubt.
   Like Job, it’s okay to say, “I spoke of things I didn’t understand.” Bring your questions to God honestly but also be willing to lay them down and let Him be God.
3. Start thanking God before the outcome changes.
   Job worshipped before his life was restored. You can do the same. Thank God today for His purpose, even when you don’t see how it all fits together yet.
4. Look for the restoration He’s already begun.
   Job’s restoration wasn’t just material, it was also relational, emotional, and spiritual. Ask God to show you where He’s already working in your story right now.

Today I want to encourage you that even though you may not understand the path you’re on, the One who leads you knows exactly where He’s taking you. You haven’t missed it. You aren’t too far off course. God’s purposes stand firm, and He’s faithful to complete what He started in you. So lift your head, steady your heart, and take the next step forward knowing this: no purpose of His can be thwarted. He is not done with your story.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 42

1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job.

10 And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.

12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.

14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.

15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

17 So Job died, old and full of days.

Journal Prompt:

• What is one situation in your life that feels uncertain or unresolved?
• Write it down and under it, write Job 42:2.
• Then, take a moment to release it to God in prayer, trusting that His purpose in your life will prevail.

Who can stand

_{No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? ~ Job 41:10}

This verse stops me in my tracks every time I read it. It’s a reminder that no matter how powerful the enemy seems, no matter how strong the opposition looks, nothing compares to the might and majesty of our God. Job 41 describes the Leviathan, a creature so fearsome, no man dares to challenge it. Yet God uses this terrifying beast to highlight a powerful truth: If no one can stand against a created creature, who could ever stand against the One who created it?

I remember once in my life when I felt like I was wrestling something too big to overcome. Waves of fear, confusion, and stress rolled over me, and I couldn’t stop worrying about it.  I felt small. I didn’t even know how to pray about it.  It felt like I was standing before a beast I couldn’t fight. But one morning during my quiet time with the Lord, I read this chapter in Job. Verse 10 rang out like a bell: “Who then is able to stand against Me?” It wasn’t just a question, it was an invitation to let go. He was reminding me, This battle is Mine. I didn’t need to overpower the storm. I only needed to trust the One who spoke the sea into existence.  I turned over the anxiety I was feeling and almost instantly, I felt His peace as He calmed the raging storm within. 

Maybe you are up against something today that seems to big to get around?  Maybe you are the one that is feeling the pressure of a weight too heavy to lift. If so, be encouraged by this scripture and trust the One who made it all.  Take courage from this passage and remember the God who formed Leviathan holds you firmly in His hand. His power far outweighs anything you will face, and He stands ready to calm the winds around you as you trust Him every step of the way.

Here are some practical ways you can hold onto this truth and start walking in peace today:

1. Acknowledge God’s unmatched power.
When the problem looks too big, speak this truth out loud: “Nothing stands against my God.” You may not feel strong, but you serve the One who cannot be shaken.

2. Stop trying to fight spiritual battles in your own strength.
Are you exhausted from trying to fix everything on your own? Step back. Take the pressure off yourself. Pray, “God, I surrender this to You. I trust Your power more than my plans.”

3. Meditate on God’s majesty.
Reread Job 41 slowly. Let it build your view of God. You don’t have to understand everything, but you can be sure of this: The One who rules over Leviathan holds you close.

4. Remember who fights for you.
God doesn’t ask you to face the Leviathan, He simply asks you to stand firm in Him. Keep your eyes on the One who is more than able.

Today, I want to encourage you to stop shrinking back in fear of what looks overwhelming and start standing in awe of the One who is over it all. There is no situation, no enemy, no system, no storm, and no power that can stand against your God. When you’re tempted to wrestle or worry, stop and remember: “Who then is able to stand against Me?” Not one.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 41

1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?

2 Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?

3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?

4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?

5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens?

6 Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?

7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?

8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle—never do it again!

9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?

10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?

11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

12 “I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions.

13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?

14 Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around?

15 His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal;

16 One is so near another that no air can come between them;

17 They are joined one to another, they stick together and cannot be parted.

18 His sneezing’s flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.

20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.

22 Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him.

23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.

24 His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone.

25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashing’s they are beside themselves.

26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.

27 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.

29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.

30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.

31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.

33 On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.

34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”

Journal:

• What situation in your life feels like a “Leviathan” that is something too big to handle?
• Write it down, then under it, write God’s question: “Who then is able to stand against Me?”
• Spend a few moments inviting His strength into that very place.

Constant in Prayer

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.  Acts 12:5

Have you ever been involved in an all-night prayer meeting? How about one that went on for days? I can honestly say I have not, though we do have twenty-one days of prayer twice a year, as well as weekly opportunities to gather for prayer at church. But I’ve never participated in something where we come together in constant prayer for a specific situation, staying with it until the breakthrough comes, no matter how long it takes.

The truth is prayer is how we open the door for God to intervene in our circumstances. I would go as far as to say that many of us haven’t experienced that kind of extended prayer simply because we’ve never had a loved one scheduled to be executed the next day. A life-or-death situation changes everything. It shifts our urgency, our attention, and our faith.

I’m so thankful that I’ve never been in a situation that extreme. I know I would pray, but I can’t say how long I could stay in that place. In today’s reading, the Apostle James had already been publicly executed, and now Peter had been arrested and was scheduled to die the next day. The situation seemed hopeless. He was heavily guarded, and escape was impossible by human means. But the people of God gathered and prayed constantly and fervently and God did what only He could do. Peter was miraculously delivered. Prayer made the impossible possible.

I’ve seen the power of prayer many times in my life. Ideally, we’re living in such a close relationship with the Lord that we walk each day in constant communion with Him, seeking His guidance and wisdom in every decision. That kind of daily conversation keeps us on the path of His provision and protection. It helps us recognize divine opportunities, say the right words, and make a difference in someone else’s life.

This is the calling on us as believers. We help open the door between heaven and earth by lifting our world to Him. When we pray, we invite God’s will into impossible places. Others experience the goodness of God when we lead them to that place of prayer and invite Him into their circumstances.

Here are some ways you can begin opening the doors in your circumstances so heaven can reach through and make the impossible possible:

1. Set aside time daily to be alone with God. Not out of duty, but out of desire to know Him and hear His voice.
2. Bring specific issues before Him both personal and for others. Write them down. Keep track of what you’re asking God for.
3. Pray with others. Find a group of believers or even one friend and start praying regularly for your church, your city, and the world.
4. Pray spontaneously. When someone shares a need with you, don’t say “I’ll pray for you.” Do it right then and there.
5. Stay in a continual conversation with God throughout the day. Talk to Him about everything. Ask for wisdom, strength, and direction in the moment.

Today, I want to encourage you to pray without ceasing. Don’t wait for a crisis to stir up passion in your prayers. Press in now, while the path is clear and your heart is soft. There is power in your prayer, and there is a breakthrough on the other side of your persistence. You carry the ability to help bring heaven to earth. Don’t give up. Stay in the conversation. The same God who freed Peter in Acts 12 is the same God who hears you today.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 12:1-5

1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Journal:

• What situation in your life or in someone else’s life needs “constant prayer” right now?
• How can you set time aside this week to pray intentionally and invite others to join you?

Be quiet and listen

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.” ~ Job 40:3–4

I have often wondered why it took so long for God to be heard in Job’s life. There were thirty-seven chapters of silence from heaven, while Job wrestled through pain, his friends argued their perspectives, and human logic tried to explain what only God fully understood. But when I read the key verse today, I realized something important: it wasn’t that God wasn’t speaking. It’s that Job wasn’t ready to listen.

If I’m honest, I’ve been in that place, too. Most days I get down on the floor to thank God for the day, layout my list of requests and what I am thankful for. Then finish quickly with “Got to go because it is time to start getting ready, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”  Even if He did want to speak something, I didn’t make the time or space for it. Then there are the times when I cry out for answers, beg for clarity, and get frustrated when it seems like heaven is quiet. But deep down, I didn’t really want direction or wasn’t ready for it. In those moments, I am mostly looking for affirmation of my own conclusions. I am not seeking the truth, but comfort on my own terms. It isn’t until I quiet my own reasoning, silence the noise of advice or opinions, and surrendered my need to understand that I can begin to hear what God is saying.

Job 40 is a turning point. After God’s powerful declaration in chapter 38 and 39 about His authority over creation, Job finally breaks. Not in defeat, but in holy realization. He sees God for who He is, and suddenly, all his arguments fall silent. He doesn’t argue, explain, or even cry. He puts his hand over his mouth. And that’s when everything starts to shift and opens the way for God’s truth to get through.

Here are some practical ways you can intentionally silence the questions and need for knowing when you are in crisis:

1. Learn the power of silence.
Sometimes our prayers are full of requests and complaints, but we miss the most important part, that is listening.
Begin your prayer time with five minutes of silence. No requests. Just stillness before God.

2. Question your motives for wanting to hear from God.
Are you asking to obey or are you asking to be validated or to argue?
Write down one area of your life you’re seeking answers in. Then ask, “God, if You tell me something I don’t want to hear, will I still say yes?”  Then pray for His empowering grace to help you to receive His truth.

3. Let the greatness of God reset your heart.
Read Job 38–40 out loud. Let the majesty of God reframe your perspective.
Instead of asking, “Why me?” begin to say, “Who are You, Lord, and what do You want me to see about You in this situation?”

Job’s restoration didn’t begin with answers, it began with surrender. It came when he stopped talking and started truly listening. Maybe you’ve been begging God to speak, but He’s just waiting for you to pause, to get quiet, and to trust His voice above your own. His ways are higher. His thoughts are deeper. His timing is perfect. You may not get the explanation you want, but you will get the peace that comes from knowing who He is.

So today, I want to encourage you to shut off the noise. Step back from all the advice, the overthinking, and the constant commentary in your mind. Lay your hand over your mouth like Job did, and let God do the talking. You don’t need to have all the answers, you just need to be still enough to hear the One who does.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 40

1 Then the Lord said to Job,

2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

3 Then Job replied to the Lord,

4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.

5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”

6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

7 “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

8 “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?

9 Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty.

11 Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud.

12 Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand.

13 Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead.

14 Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.

15 “Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.

16 See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.

17 Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.

18 Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.

19 It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.

20 The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play.

21 It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.

22 The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream.

23 It is not disturbed by the raging river,  not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it.

24 No one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.

Journal:

• What is one area where you’ve been doing all the talking and not listening to God?
• What does surrender look like for you today in that situation?

Trust the Wonder You Don’t Understand

“Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?” ~ Job 39:19

There are parts of life that just don’t make sense with timing, delays, sudden changes, or unanswered questions. Sometimes, our human need to understand everything can keep us from trusting the One who made everything.

Job 39 is filled with questions God asked Job about creation. One by one, God pointed out the strength of the horse, the wildness of the ox, the independence of the mountain goat, and the flight of the hawk. These are not random examples. Each one is a reminder that God designed the world with intricate detail and deep intention, all without needing Job’s or anyone’s help. He doesn’t just move in what we can explain, He also has His hand in what we can’t even grasp.

When I was young I thought I had life all figured out, but in one sudden decision, everything seemed to be falling apart. I had prayed, prepared, and though I moved forward in faith, only to feel like I was met with a closed door. I questioned God’s timing. Why now? Why like this? Then one day, as I sat on the edge of my porch staring off into the distance, I watched a bird soar across the sky. It seemed to fly looked effortless.  That’s when I remembered how God mentioned the hawk in this scripture. “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom?” No!  It flies by God’s design. That day, the Holy Spirit reminded me: “You don’t have to understand everything. You just have to trust Me.”

Here are a few practical ways you can trust God when you don’t understand:

1. Acknowledge what is out of your control.

Make a short list of the things you’re trying to figure out right now. Next to each one, write: “God understands.” Let go of the pressure to explain what only God can see.  Remember that as you commit these things to Him, He is working on them until they are turned for good.

Pray, “Lord, I give You the parts of my life I can’t control. Show me how to trust Your design over my own understanding.”

2. Celebrate the wonder of His creation.

God used nature in this chapter to show His strength and wisdom. Sometimes, remembering how great He is, reminds us of how small our worries really are.

Step outside today and take in the details of God’s creation. Watch a bird fly, feel the breeze, notice the rhythm of nature. Let it be a personal reminder that God holds it all together.

3. Surrender the need for all the answers.

Job wasn’t given an explanation, he was given a revelation of God’s design and power. God didn’t answer all his “why” questions, but He reminded him who is holding all things together.

Write out your own prayer that begins, “God, I don’t know why… but I trust that You do.” Let that become your daily confession.

Today I want to encourage you to recognize that Job 39 doesn’t solve the mystery of suffering, but it does shift the perspective. It reminds us that the God who gives the horse its strength and teaches the eagle to soar is also the One who is guiding your life. If He can direct creation without your help, He can certainly guide your steps with His wisdom. Even when you don’t understand what’s ahead, you can trust that He is working all things together for your good.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 39

1 “Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?

2 Do you know how many months they carry their young? Are you aware of the time of their delivery?

3 They crouch down to give birth to their young and deliver their offspring.

4 Their young grow up in the open fields, then leave home and never return.

5 “Who gives the wild donkey its freedom? Who untied its ropes?

6 I have placed it in the wilderness; its home is the wasteland.

7 It hates the noise of the city and has no driver to shout at it.

8 The mountains are its pastureland, where it searches for every blade of grass.

9 “Will the wild ox consent to being tamed? Will it spend the night in your stall?

10 Can you hitch a wild ox to a plow? Will it plow a field for you?

11 Given its strength, can you trust it? Can you leave and trust the ox to do your work?

12 Can you rely on it to bring home your grain and deliver it to your threshing floor?

13 “The ostrich flaps her wings grandly, but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.

14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust.

15 She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them or a wild animal might destroy them.

16 She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She doesn’t care if they die.

17 For God has deprived her of wisdom. He has given her no understanding.

18 But whenever she jumps up to run, she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.

19 “Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is terrifying!

21 It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength when it charges out to battle.

22 It laughs at fear and is unafraid. It does not run from the sword.

23 The arrows rattle against it, and the spear and javelin flash.

24 It paws the ground fiercely and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.

25 It snorts at the sound of the horn. It senses the battle in the distance. It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.

26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south?

27 Is it at your command that the eagle rises to the heights to make its nest?

28 It lives on the cliffs, making its home on a distant, rocky crag.

29 From there it hunts its prey, keeping watch with piercing eyes.

30 Its young gulp down blood. Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find it.”

Journal:

• What is one situation in your life right now that doesn’t make sense?
• How can you release it into the hands of the God who made the wild things and directs them with perfect wisdom?

When His presence is known

“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?’” ~ Job 38:1–2

After chapter upon chapter of sorrow, questions, and speculation, something powerful happens in Job 38: God speaks. Out of the whirlwind, the Lord responds to Job, not with explanations, but with questions that forces Job to take his focus off his pain and onto God’s majesty.

This passage makes me think about a time when I was going through a struggle.  I wasn’t angry with God, I just didn’t know the right way to deal with or process what I was feeling. I cried out to my heavenly Father for wisdom.  In that moment, I sensed Him pulling me close to Him and then turning me around so that I could see things from His perspective.  Suddenly, I felt small, but not abandoned. I could see the whole earth as though I was looking at it from space. It seemed like He started pointing to other things that were happening in the world around mine.  Things that He was working all together for a good purpose. Nothing had changed in my circumstances, but my entire perspective shifted. I felt the closeness of my loving Father and I could see that He had His hand on my life and the situation that I was so anxious about.  I felt His peace and assurance that He was still the Creator of all things and nothing that I faced was out of His reach. That precious time with Him didn’t fix everything I was dealing with that day, but it gave me a place to focus in the stressful times to come in life.  I had a knowing in my heart that He was going to bring a blessed result and all the anxiety of the problem I was currently in faded away.

You can draw strength from Him too when your life feels out of control.  Below is a list of steps to follow:

1. Shift your focus to God’s greatness.
   Instead of rehearsing what’s wrong or what’s missing, turn your attention to Who God is. Read Job 38 slowly. Let each question remind you of God’s limitless wisdom and power. When your world feels unstable, remember He laid the foundation of the earth (Job 38:4).

Start by setting aside 10 minutes to read Job 38 aloud today. Write down 3 truths about God’s power that stand out to you.

2. Surrender what you can’t explain.
   Job didn’t get all his questions answered. But in God’s response, he realized that understanding everything isn’t necessary to trust fully. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is: “God, I don’t understand, but I trust You anyway.”

Write out the questions that are weighing on you.

Pray: “Lord, I surrender these questions to You. Show me how to rest in Your greatness.”

3. Stand in awe of the One who speaks.
   Job’s encounter wasn’t casual, it was holy. God didn’t have to answer, but He did. He spoke not to shame Job, but to shift his heart back to reverence. When God speaks, even through the storms of life, it’s a gift that changes us.

Create a “God is…” list. Begin every sentence with that phrase and finish with a truth you know about His character.   Hang it where you’ll see it each morning.

Today I want to encourage you when life feels like a storm and the silence of heaven is deafening, remember that your Father in heaven does speak. When He does, everything shifts. Not always the physical world, but in your heart and soul. Let His voice echo louder than your doubts. Let His greatness draw you into deeper trust. When you look up and see the One who laid the earth’s foundations, you can stand firm, even when everything else feels shaken to its core.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 38

1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?

3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?

6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone

7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,

9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?

10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.

11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?

13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?

14 As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.

15 The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.

16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?

17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?

18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

19 “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?

20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?

21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!

22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?

23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)

24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?

25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?

26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?

27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?

28 “Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?

29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?

30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.

31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?

32 Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?

33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?

34 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?

35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?

36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?

37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven

38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?

39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites

40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?

41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?

Journal:

• What questions am I holding onto that God is inviting me to surrender?
• How is He calling me to trust Him more deeply today?

The Power that still speaks

^{“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” ~ Job 37:5}

Have you ever stood outside during a summer thunderstorm and just listened? I mean really listened. The booming thunder, the crack of lightning, the wind that seems to come out of nowhere. It’s a moment where creation demands attention and reminds us that we are small and He is big. This is what today’s reading describes: the voice of God roaring through nature, doing wonders we can’t even comprehend.

I remember when I was a young girl, I used to love sitting outside on the porch when a thunderstorm rolled in.  It was usually a gentle rainfall with a spectacular light show and loud thunder crashes.  I would count the seconds between the thunder and the lightning to determine how far away the storm actually was. One specific storm stands out, though.  I was hurting because of a betrayed friendship, I couldn’t help but think about the One who sits in heaven. Watching that spectacular show in the evening sky reminded me Who He is and that He’s still speaking. That He was still working in my life even when it didn’t feel like it. That was enough to keep going. It felt like everything in me was crashing just as loudly as the thunder above but in that moment of focusing in, my heavenly Father showed me how great His power is and always will be. That He is walking through this life with me, especially in those painful moments.

Today’s reading is spoken again by Elihu, and gets us ready the voice of God in the next chapter. The passage encourages us that even when we don’t have all the answers, and even when we can’t trace His hand, we can still trust His voice. He speaks through the storm, and sometimes the storm is what makes us quiet enough to hear Him.

Here are some ways you can start tuning in to Him in your life right now:

1. Get quiet on purpose.
   Turn off the noise in life such as: your phone, the TV, the rush of constant tasks and sit with God. Ask Him to speak and wait to hear His answer. He doesn’t shout to compete with chaos. He often whispers when we choose to intentionally press into Him.
   Choose a 10-minute window each day to sit quietly before God with no agenda.
2. Let creation remind you.
   Take a walk, look at the sky, listen to the rain. God’s power is on display every day through His creation. When you take time to notice it, it stirs up awe and reminds you of His greatness.
   Go outside once this week just to be with God. Leave your phone inside and pray as you walk.
3. Trust His greatness when you don’t understand His plans.
   We don’t always get clarity right away. But we do get His presence. He is doing great things, even when they don’t make sense in the moment.
   Write down one area of your life that feels confusing or painful. Under it, write Job 37:5 and say out loud: “God, You are still doing great things here.”

Today I want to encourage you that even though you may not get an answer right now, your Father in heaven is still speaking. You may not understand the storm, but He is in it. You may not see what’s next, but His voice is preparing the way. Pay attention to God’s power on display around you and know that it is never absent and His voice never silenced. The same God who thunders through the heavens is the One who holds your life in His hands.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 37

1 “My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me.

2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth.

3 It rolls across the heavens, and His lightning flashes in every direction.

4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder, the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks.

5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.

7 Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.

8 The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens.

9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold.

10 God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water.

11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning.

12 The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.

13 He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.

14 “Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!

15 Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?

16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill?

17 When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still,

18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that?

19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God. We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.

20 Should God be notified that I want to speak? Can people even speak when they are confused?

21 We cannot look at the sun, for it shines brightly in the sky when the wind clears away the clouds.

22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor.

23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, He does not destroy us.

24 No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.”

Journal:

• What area of your life feels uncertain or stormy right now?
• Where can you intentionally pause and listen for God’s voice this week?

Help

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ~ Acts 11:29

When a severe famine swept the Roman world, the believers in Antioch didn’t hesitate, they gathered what they could and sent relief to those suffering in Judea. This snapshot of the early church shows how God’s people respond when crisis strikes: they give, they serve, and they do it together.

I saw a modern-day example of this during the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. While much of the country closed its doors, many churches opened their parking lots as drive-through pantries, offered prayer hotlines, and delivered meals to seniors and the sick. Big companies like Walmart, Costco, and Sysco donated truckloads of groceries and supplies so local congregations could distribute them. Even today, disaster-response teams from churches continue to show up after hurricanes, floods, and fires. It’s a living picture of Acts 11: the body of Christ meeting needs with whatever resources God has placed in their hands.

Here are some practical ways you can be a part of the body:

1. Give regularly to relief funds.

Set up a monthly gift to your church’s benevolence fund or to a trusted relief ministry (Convoy of Hope, Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon).

Even small, consistent giving builds a reserve that can be deployed quickly when crisis comes.

2. Join or start a community network.

If your town has a food-distribution hub or disaster-prep group, volunteer your skills by packing boxes, driving or making calls.

If you don’t have a network close by, you can gather neighbors to share emergency contacts, tool lists, or bulk-purchased supplies.

3. Prepare personally and spiritually.

Keep basic emergency items on hand (water, non-perishable food, first-aid kits) so you’re able to help others, not just yourself.

Daily ask the Holy Spirit for discernment: “Show me where I can be a source of relief today.”

4. Mobilize your church.

If your congregation doesn’t yet have a plan, propose forming a relief team. Draft simple steps: designate storage space, build a volunteer list, and connect with local agencies now, before a disaster hits.

Here is how you can get started right away:

• Choose one: set up a recurring gift, sign up to serve at a food bank, or stock a small emergency kit.
• Invite a friend: caring multiplies when done with others.

Today I want to encourage you that the same Spirit who stirred the believers in Antioch is stirring us today. Whether famine, pandemic, or natural disaster, God positions His people to be first responders of hope. Your contribution whether large or small, matters. When each of us gives “according to our ability,” needs are met, hearts are encouraged, and Jesus is seen.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 11:27-30

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Journal:

• Where can I offer practical help right now such as: time, resources, or skills?
• Ask God to highlight one concrete step and write it down along with a date to act on it.