The Daily Dose

Make sure

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.  ~ Acts 10:1-2

This is one of my favorite accounts in Scripture. Cornelius and his family were the first Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to receive the new birth. This moment was groundbreaking—and if God hadn’t initiated it, the disciples likely would’ve never taken that step on their own. Even when Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house, he admitted that, by Jewish law, he wasn’t supposed to associate with Gentiles. He had even argued with God when God told him not to call unclean what He had cleansed.

Now, let’s pause and consider what we know about Cornelius. Acts 10 is both the first and last time we hear about him in the Bible, but his story is amazingly significant. In verses 1–2, we read that he was a Roman centurion in the Italian Regiment, devout, God-fearing (along with his household), generous in giving to the poor, and faithful in prayer. Later in verse 30, we find out he even fasted. He already sounds more spiritually disciplined than many who claim to follow Jesus today.

So why did Peter need to preach the gospel to him? Cornelius was already doing many things Christians are supposed to do. He talked to God, and God listened.  Even an angel even appeared to him! Yet with all of this, Cornelius still needed salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. He needed to receive forgiveness of sins and be born again. It wasn’t enough to be good or religious. He had to put his trust in the finished work of Jesus, not in his own efforts.

The encouraging truth here is that God sees the hearts of those who are genuinely seeking Him. Cornelius wasn’t yet part of God’s family, but God made sure the gospel got to him. That’s how faithful and loving our God is. If someone is truly longing to know Him, He will always make a way. You can count on that!

Here’s how you can begin to apply this principle in your life today:

1. Examine your foundation. Ask yourself if you are trusting in your own goodness or if you’ve truly surrendered your life to Jesus.
2. Make sure. Don’t leave your eternity to chance. Salvation isn’t about church attendance, good deeds, or spiritual habits. It’s about knowing Jesus personally as Lord and Savior.
3. Start today. If you’ve never invited Jesus into your life, or if you’re unsure, stop and talk to Him now. The invitation is open.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that God isn’t looking for perfection, He’s looking for surrender. Cornelius was devout, but what changed his life forever was saying yes to Jesus. If you’ve said yes today, heaven is celebrating! If you’ve already made that decision, let this be a reminder to never base your confidence in your performance, but in the One who saved you by grace.

If you’ve never received salvation through the blood and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, pray this prayer with a sincere heart:

God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

 Today’s scripture reading: Acts 10:1-8 & 34-43

1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment.

2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.

3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.

4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!

5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.

6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants.

8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.

35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism.

38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,

40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear,

41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.

43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.

46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,

47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

Journal:

• Take a few quiet moments today and write down your answer to this question: “Do I know for sure that I’ve received Jesus as Lord of my life?
• If yes, what fruit in my life shows that decision?”
• Let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts and let today be a day of certainty and peace.

Listen

“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. ~ Job 21:2

If you’ve ever had a close friend or loved one going through a tough time, you know how hard it can be to find the right words. Whether it’s a loss, a diagnosis, or a broken relationship, there’s no perfect script for comforting someone in pain. But there is something you can give, something that might seem small but is often exactly what’s needed, that is your full attention. Listen to them. Let them process. Let them speak, even if they don’t say everything perfectly. Being present and willing to hear someone’s heart may be the most powerful comfort you can offer.

In Job 21, Job made a desperate plea to his friends: “Just listen. Let me speak. That alone would comfort me.” His friends spent chapter after chapter accusing, correcting, and trying to explain Job’s suffering. But Job didn’t want explanations, he wanted ears. He wanted empathy. He wanted someone to just sit in the sorrow with him.

I’ve experienced this myself. I’ve sat across from people I loved, hoping they would offer peace or help carry the weight. But instead, they tried to explain it away and tried to fix me or give a reason for what I was walking through. I’ve done the same to others at times, jumping into advice mode instead of listening. We often fear silence, but what hurting people often need most is presence without pressure.

There are some practical things you can do to begin putting this simple truth into action:

1. Choose presence over answers. When someone around you is hurting, ask if they want to talk, and then listen without interrupting. You don’t need a solution. You just need to be there.
   1. Resist the urge to explain someone else’s pain. Job’s friends assumed they knew why he was suffering, but they were wrong. Be slow to speak and quick to listen.
   1. Be honest with God about your own questions. Like Job, it’s okay to wrestle. Ask the hard questions: Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the righteous suffer? God is not afraid of our questions.
   1. Check your compassion. Ask yourself, “Am I offering comfort, or am I trying to correct?” Let kindness lead your conversations.

Next time someone around you is in pain, don’t overthink your response. Sit with them. Listen to what they share. Create space for them to speak without judgment. You don’t have to fix it, you just have to be near. If you’re the one who hurts, ask for what you need. Job asked his friends to simply listen. Sometimes that one request opens the door for real healing.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that not every question has a quick answer, and not every pain needs a solution. God sees the injustice. He hears the cries and even when others misunderstand or offer empty clichés, He is not silent and He is not absent. You may be in a place where you don’t need explanations, you just need someone to listen. Know this, God does and He cares more deeply than you could ever imagine.

Today’s scripture reading:  Job 21

1 Then Job spoke again:

2 “Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me.

3 Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

4 “My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.

5 Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock.

6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles.

7 “Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?

8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.

9 Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.

10 Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.

11 They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.

12 They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.

13 They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.

14 And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.

15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’

16 (They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

17 “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?

18 Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!

19 “‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.

20 Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.

21 For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.

22 “But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?

23 One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure,

24 the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.

25 Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life.

26 But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.

27 “Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.

28 You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.

29 But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.

30 Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster.

31 No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.

32 When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.

33 A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest, and the earth gives sweet repose.

34 “How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!”

Journal:

• When have you felt truly heard during a painful season?
• Who can you be that kind of listener for this week?

Temporary Triumphs

The triumph of the wicked has been short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary? ~ Job 20:5

This chapter of Job is where Zophar comes on the scene.  We find out that he has been there the whole time and now finally, he speaks up with sharp and self-righteous certainty. His entire argument boils down to this: wicked people may seem successful for a moment, but their prosperity will vanish quickly, and God will bring swift justice. The problem with Zophar’s explanation is that he’s aiming this harsh judgment directly at Job, assuming that his suffering must be punishment for his sin.

Zophar’s words reveal a mindset that still shows up today, that if someone is hurting, they must have caused it. That if someone is winning, they must be doing something right. However, life isn’t that simple, and Job’s story proves it.

I recently walked through a painful situation, where people made assumptions about my struggles. Some said I must be going through a “test,” while others were quick to judge, thinking my pain was the result of something I had done. What hurt the most wasn’t the suffering itself, it was realizing that those I believed were closest, the ones I thought loved me most, weren’t willing to simply be present with me. But in those moments, I pressed deeper into God’s love and began to see a bigger picture of His plan, even when others misunderstood it.

Job 20 isn’t a comforting chapter, it’s full of warnings and accusations. But it does remind us that the world’s idea of success is fleeting. The temporary triumphs of the wicked may look impressive, but they don’t last. True blessings of peace, purpose, and God’s favor, can’t be measured by possessions or popularity.

Here are some practical ways to apply this passage in your life:

• Stay grounded in God’s Word when people speak from opinion rather than truth. Let His voice be your foundation when others misunderstand you.
• Guard your heart against bitterness. When you’re wrongly accused or judged, it’s tempting to want revenge or to defend yourself. Trust God to handle what’s unseen.
• Measure success differently. Ask yourself regularly: “Is what I’m chasing eternal or temporary?” Let that guide your decisions.

Today I want to encourage you to read Job 20, not as a map for how to treat others in pain, but as a warning of how easy it is to misjudge a situation. Ask God to help you discern His definition of success and to give you wisdom when speaking into someone else’s suffering. You don’t have to prove anything to people who misread your story. God sees the whole picture, and He defends the innocent. Even when others speak out of pride or assumption, He remains faithful. The wicked may rise for a moment, but those who walk with God stand for eternity.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 20

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 “I must reply because I am greatly disturbed.

3 I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply.

4 “Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth,

5 the triumph of the wicked has been short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?

6 Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds,

7 yet they will vanish forever, thrown away like their own dung. Those who knew them will ask, ‘Where are they?’

8 They will fade like a dream and not be found. They will vanish like a vision in the night.

9 Those who once saw them will see them no more. Their families will never see them again.

10 Their children will beg from the poor, for they must give back their stolen riches.

11 Though they are young, their bones will lie in the dust.

12 “They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue.

13 They savored it, holding it long in their mouths.

14 But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach.

15 They will vomit the wealth they swallowed. God won’t let them keep it down.

16 They will suck the poison of cobras. The viper will kill them.

17 They will never again enjoy streams of olive oil or rivers of milk and honey.

18 They will give back everything they worked for. Their wealth will bring them no joy.

19 For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute. They foreclosed on their homes.

20 They were always greedy and never satisfied. Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about.

21 Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves. Therefore, their prosperity will not endure.

22 “In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble and be overcome by misery.

23 May God give them a bellyful of trouble. May God rain down his anger upon them.

24 When they try to escape an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them.

25 The arrow is pulled from their back, and the arrowhead glistens with blood. The terrors of death are upon them.

26 Their treasures will be thrown into deepest darkness. A wildfire will devour their goods,

Consuming all they have left.

27 The heavens will reveal their guilt, and the earth will testify against them.

28 A flood will sweep away their house. God’s anger will descend on them in torrents.

29 This is the reward that God gives the wicked. It is the inheritance decreed by God.”

Journal:

• Where have you been wrongly judged or misunderstood?
• How is God reminding you to trust Him to write the final chapters of your story?

He still sees me

_{“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” ~ Job 19:25}

Today’s passage is one of the most gut-wrenching chapters in the entire Bible. It’s raw, painful, and honest. Job, once again, pours out the deep grief of being misunderstood, abandoned, and falsely judged by those who should have stood by him. His friends accused him, his family distanced themselves, and even his servants ignored him. Yet in the middle of all this, Job declared one of the most powerful confessions of faith in Scripture: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.”

I remember when I was walking through a tough season in my life when every step felt like it hurt. It wasn’t just the circumstances, I could handle hard things, but the silence, the distance from those I thought would be near, made it heavier. I felt invisible, like my pain had worn people out. But in the quiet, God was near. He didn’t change everything around me at once, but He reminded me: He saw me still. Like Job, I held on to the truth that I had a Redeemer who was not absent in my affliction.

This chapter reminds us that even when we feel forgotten, we are never forsaken. People may not always understand what we’re carrying, but God never loses sight of us. He doesn’t need to be convinced of our pain because He is present in it. Job shows us that we can grieve and still trust. We can be honest and still believe. We can declare God’s faithfulness even when we can’t see the evidence of it yet.

Here are some practical ways you can apply this truth in your personal situation:

• Speak what you know to be true about God, especially when your emotions say otherwise. Like Job, make declarations of faith: “My Redeemer lives.”
• Identify safe people to share your pain with. Not everyone will understand, and that’s okay. But God will often send one or two who will stand with you.
• Stay in the Word. When you’re surrounded by voices of judgment or discouragement, let Scripture be the loudest voice you hear.
• Don’t rush to fix the pain. Some seasons are meant to be walked through, not escaped. Invite God into the middle of it.

Today I want to encourage you to go through Job 19 slowly. Pay attention to the shift between Job’s sorrow and his declaration of hope. Then, write your own version of verse 25. For example:
“I know that my Healer sees me.”
“I know that my Defender will come through.”
Let truth rise above your circumstance because God is not finished yet.

You may feel like you’re surrounded by misunderstanding, but you are not alone. God is closer than the pain. He sees your tears, your faith, and your fight. One day, just as Job believed, you will see Him stand victorious over your story.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 19

1 Then Job spoke again:

2 “How long will you torture me? How long will you try to crush me with your words?

3 You have already insulted me ten times. You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.

4 Even if I have sinned, that is my concern, not yours.

5 You think you’re better than I am, using my humiliation as evidence of my sin.

6 But it is God who has wronged me, capturing me in his net.

7 “I cry out, ‘Help!’ but no one answers me. I protest, but there is no justice.

8 God has blocked my way so I cannot move. He has plunged my path into darkness.

9 He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.

10 He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished. He has uprooted my hope like a fallen tree.

11 His fury burns against me; he counts me as an enemy.

12 His troops advance. They build up roads to attack me. They camp all around my tent.

13 “My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me.

14 My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me.

15 My servants and maids consider me a stranger. I am like a foreigner to them.

16 When I call my servant, he doesn’t come; I have to plead with him!

17 My breath is repulsive to my wife. I am rejected by my own family.

18 Even young children despise me. When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me.

19 My close friends detest me. Those I loved have turned against me.

20 I have been reduced to skin and bones and have escaped death by the skin of my teeth.

21 “Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy, for the hand of God has struck me.

22 Must you also persecute me, like God does? Haven’t you chewed me up enough?

23 “Oh, that my words could be recorded. Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,

24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead, engraved forever in the rock.

25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.

26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!

27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

28 “How dare you go on persecuting me, saying, ‘It’s his own fault’?

29 You should fear punishment yourselves, for your attitude deserves punishment. Then you will know that there is indeed a judgment.”

 Journal:

• What are you going through that feels invisible or misunderstood right now?
• What do you know about your Redeemer that you can declare over this situation today?

Words can hurt, but God heals

_{“Surely the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. The sparks of their fire will not glow. ~ Job 18:5}

This passage feels kind of harsh at first glance. Bildad, one of Job’s friends, speaks sharply, describing the downfall of the wicked in vivid detail. His intent was to correct Job, but instead, he adds to Job’s pain by wrongly assuming Job’s suffering must be due to sin. It’s a painful chapter to read because it reminds me how careless or misinformed words can deepen wounds rather than bring healing.

I remember a season when I was struggling through a season that others didn’t fully understand. Well-meaning people that loved me said things like, “Everything happens for a reason,” or “You just need to trust more.” Even things like “you are making a mess of your life.” Even though some of their warnings may have been the truth, they didn’t help me when I was hurting so badly.  Instead, they actually stung and caused me to isolate myself from the people who cared most about me. Like Job, I wasn’t looking for explanations. I needed someone to simply be there. To listen. To sit with me in the hard place I was in, even if it was self-inflicted.

What’s powerful in Job 18 isn’t Bildad’s speech, but the contrast it created. It helps me see what not to do. It calls me to be a person who brings light instead of snuffing it out. When someone is suffering, my role is not to diagnose or fix. It’s to care, pray, and walk beside them with compassion. In a world where it’s easy to speak quickly and judge harshly, God invites us to speak life and offer grace when people are hurting.

Here are some simple ways we can put this principle into practice each day:

1. Check your words before you speak. Ask yourself: Will this build up or tear down? (Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that life and death are in the power of the tongue.)
2. Show up for someone. You don’t need the perfect words. A note, a text, or simply your presence can mean everything to someone who is hurting.
3. Pray before you respond. Ask God for wisdom to be gentle and Spirit-led in your conversations, especially when others are going through pain or loss.
4. Choose grace over assumptions. Just because someone is struggling doesn’t mean they did something wrong. Be slow to speak and quick to listen.

You can start today by following these steps:

• Think of someone who might be going through a hard time. Reach out with kindness. You don’t need a reason, just love them right where they are.
• In your quiet time, ask God to make you someone who brings light into dark places, not with empty words, but with sincere love and humility.

Today I want to encourage you that even when others misunderstand you, or when words wound, God sees the full picture. He knows your heart. Bildad tried to speak as if he had all the answers, but God reminds us throughout Job’s story that He alone is the ultimate Judge, Healer, and Comforter. Let this chapter inspire you not to fear the judgment of people, but to lean into the mercy of God.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 18

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2 “How long before you stop talking? Speak sense if you want us to answer!

3 Do you think we are mere animals? Do you think we are stupid?

4 You may tear out your hair in anger, but will that destroy the earth? Will it make the rocks tremble?

5 “Surely the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. The sparks of their fire will not glow.

6 The light in their tent will grow dark. The lamp hanging above them will be quenched.

7 The confident stride of the wicked will be shortened. Their own schemes will be their downfall.

8 The wicked walk into a net. They fall into a pit.

9 A trap grabs them by the heel. A snare holds them tight.

10 A noose lies hidden on the ground. A rope is stretched across their path.

11 “Terrors surround the wicked and trouble them at every step.

12 Hunger depletes their strength, and calamity waits for them to stumble.

13 Disease eats their skin; death devours their limbs.

14 They are torn from the security of their homes and are brought down to the king of terrors.

15 The homes of the wicked will burn down; burning sulfur rains on their houses.

16 Their roots will dry up, and their branches will wither.

17 All memory of their existence will fade from the earth; no one will remember their names.

18 They will be thrust from light into darkness, driven from the world.

19 They will have neither children nor grandchildren, nor any survivor in the place where they lived.

20 People in the west are appalled at their fate; people in the east are horrified.

21 They will say, ‘This was the home of a wicked person, the place of one who rejected God.’”

Journal:

• When have someone’s words hurt me in a time of pain?
• How can I be someone who brings life and healing into someone else’s dark season this week?

 When Hope Feels Distant

“Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it?” – Job 17:15

There are seasons in life where hope feels out of reach. When the weight of loss, misunderstanding, or suffering presses hard, even the strongest believer can feel abandoned, unheard, and questioning the point of it all.

I remember a time when I experienced a deep personal disappointment. A dream I had prayed over for years collapsed in front of me. I felt alone, even though I was surrounded by people. I kept serving, kept smiling, but inside I was tired. My prayers felt empty, my connection to Got was distant and I wasn’t sure how to keep going. That’s when this scripture spoke to me in a new way, not as the cries of a man who had given up, but as the honest expression of someone who desperately needed God to show up. As I kept calling out to Him, He did.

In Job 17, Job doesn’t mask his pain. He tells God how dark things are. But even in his despair, he doesn’t stop talking to God. He doesn’t walk away, he leans in. Job may not see hope in the moment, but he still directs his cries toward God. He knew the only place he would find peace was from the One Who had been with him through it all. That’s powerful.

Here are some ways you can trust your heavenly Father through difficult times, too:

1. Talk to God honestly. You don’t have to clean up your prayers. Just talk. Tell Him exactly how you feel. He’s not intimidated by your doubts or questions. He draws near to the brokenhearted.
2. Start small with hope. Job couldn’t see it, but hope wasn’t gone, it was just buried under the weight of his grief. Begin by finding one promise in God’s Word to hold onto. Write it down and speak it daily, even if your emotions don’t follow yet.
3. Don’t isolate. Job was misunderstood by his closest friends, but that didn’t stop him from seeking God. Find even one person you can be honest with who you trust to encourage you. A pastor, a mentor, or a friend. Sometimes hope comes back through the kindness of someone who listens.
4. Keep showing up. Stay in the Word, even if it feels dry. Worship, even if it’s with tears in your eyes. Hope has a way of growing in hearts that keep turning to God, even in the silence.

Today I want to encourage you to follow the example of Job by remembering that hope isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s just the next prayer. The next breath. The decision not to quit. God didn’t rebuke Job for his honesty, He met him in it. He will do the same for you. If today feels heavy, you are not alone. Hope is not lost just because you can’t see it clearly. Jesus is still near, still working, still listening. He promises beauty from ashes and light in the darkness. Let Job’s story remind you that even in your lowest moment, you are never beyond the reach of God’s hand or His plan.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 17

1 “My spirit is crushed, and my life is nearly snuffed out. The grave is ready to receive me.

2 I am surrounded by mockers. I watch how bitterly they taunt me.

3 “You must defend my innocence, O God, since no one else will stand up for me.

4 You have closed their minds to understanding, but do not let them triumph.

5 They betray their friends for their own advantage, so let their children faint with hunger.

6 “God has made a mockery of me among the people; they spit in my face.

7 My eyes are swollen with weeping, and I am but a shadow of my former self.

8 The virtuous are horrified when they see me. The innocent rise up against the ungodly.

9 The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.

10 “As for all of you, come back with a better argument, though I still won’t find a wise man among you.

11 My days are over. My hopes have disappeared. My heart’s desires are broken.

12 These men say that night is day; they claim that the darkness is light.

13 What if I go to the grave and make my bed in darkness?

14 What if I call the grave my father, and the maggot my mother or my sister?

15 Where then is my hope? Can anyone find it?

16 No, my hope will go down with me to the grave. We will rest together in the dust!”

📓 Journal:

• What area of my life feels hopeless right now?
• What is one way I can open my heart to God today, even if I don’t feel strong?

He’s still the same Lord                      

And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.  Acts 9:32

When I was younger, I remember someone saying that healing and miracles ended with the apostles, that the twelve who walked with Jesus were the only ones who could perform signs and wonders after His ascension. Because I hadn’t yet studied God’s Word for myself, I believed what I heard.

As I grew older, I had faith in God for salvation and provision, but I stopped short of believing Him for anything beyond what seemed possible. When someone became sick or faced a life-threatening illness, I didn’t know how to pray beyond “God’s will be done.” I believed healing was rare, if it happened at all.

But then I heard a testimony of someone I knew who had been miraculously healed from a terminal diagnosis. That moment shook my belief system. Maybe miracles hadn’t stopped. Maybe Jesus still healed. From then on, I began to pray differently. I stopped trying to figure out if someone “deserved” healing or had faith to be healed and started to trust in the power of God’s Word and the force of the name of Jesus.

In Acts 9, we read about Peter telling a paralyzed man, “Jesus the Christ heals you.” He didn’t ask for the man’s credentials. He didn’t pray a long prayer. He simply declared healing in the name of Jesus and immediately, the man stood up.

Notice Peter didn’t take credit. The healing wasn’t about Peter’s status, it was about Jesus. That’s consistent throughout the New Testament. Whether it was Paul, John, Ananias, or anyone else, the miracles always came through the name and power of Jesus, not through personal worthiness or human effort.

Here are some ways that we can practically apply this in our lives today:

1. Speak the Word with Confidence – Begin declaring God’s promises over your life. Scriptures like Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 103:2-3, and Mark 11:23-24 remind us of His healing power.
2. Pray in the Name of Jesus – When you pray, don’t rely on your own ability. Speak His name with authority. Miracles come from Him, not us.
3. Encourage Others Boldly – Just like Peter, you can speak life and healing to others. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions, share your faith and trust that God will do the rest.
4. Recall What He’s Already Done – Build your faith by remembering past victories. If God has come through before, He can do it again.
5. Stay in the Word – Feed your spirit daily with the truth of who Jesus is. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

You don’t have to wait for a church service, a special prayer meeting, or a spiritual leader to release God’s power in your life. You already have access to His name and His promises right now. Jesus hasn’t changed, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Today, I want to encourage you to believe again and ask boldly. Stand on His Word and trust in the name of Jesus. Whether you need healing in your body, restoration in your family, or breakthrough in your circumstances, He is still the same Lord and He’s still working miracles.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 9:32-43

 32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.

33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.

35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.

37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

Journal:

• What is one area of your life where you need to see God move in power?
• Write down a promise from God’s Word that speaks to that need and begin declaring it in faith today.

How to see multiplication

_{Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.  Acts 9:31}

I’ve been in plenty of church services where there was passionate talk about revival. People praying for growth, for spiritual energy to rise, and for fresh anointing in the faith walk of every believer. Many churches even host “revival meetings” or “weeks of increase” with the hope that their congregations will grow. While none of this is wrong, in fact, praying for souls to be saved and lives to be changed is a beautiful thing. But there’s no guarantee that extra meetings alone will lead to lasting multiplication of the body of believers.

But today’s passage gives us a clear blueprint. In Acts 9:31, we see four spiritual conditions that led to growth in the early church:

1. They had peace
2. They were edified (encouragaed)
3. They walked in the fear of the Lord
4. They walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit

These weren’t one-time events or emotional highs. These were daily commitments to live in a way that invited the presence and power of God and the result was multiplication.

Let’s look at how we can live this out in our own lives:

1. Have Peace

Peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of God in the middle of them. Colossians 3:15 tells us to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts,” and Isaiah 26:3 says we’re kept in perfect peace when we stay focused on God. Practically, this means starting your day with God’s Word, choosing gratitude in tough moments, and keeping your mind fixed on His truth, not your fears.

2. Be Edified and Edify Others

To edify is to build up, to strengthen and encourage others. You can start by speaking life into the people around you. Make a point to encourage your coworkers, check in on a friend, or share a Bible verse that’s helped you lately. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “encourage one another and build each other up,” and Jude 1:20 says praying in the Spirit builds up your own faith.

3. Walk in the Fear of the Lord

This isn’t about being afraid of God, it’s about honoring Him with reverence and giving Him first place in your life. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” When you start your day by submitting your plans to God, making decisions based on His Word, and putting Him above all else, you’re walking in true wisdom.

4. Live in the Comfort of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit isn’t just a helper for the early church, He’s your helper, too. Jesus called Him the Comforter in John 14:16, and He’s still guiding, strengthening, and speaking today. When you face challenges, pause and ask, “Holy Spirit, what do You want me to see or do in this moment?” Submitting your thoughts and emotions to Him opens the door for supernatural peace, comfort, and direction.

Today, I want to encourage you that revival and multiplication don’t start with a special event, they begin with a faithful lifestyle. When you walk in peace, build others up, honor the Lord above all else, and lean into the comfort of the Holy Spirit, you’ll begin to see growth, not only in your own life but in the lives around you. Revival starts in you and when each believer lives this way, the Church will multiply just like the church did when it was started all those years ago.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 9:26-31

26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.

30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

 Journal:

• Which of the four principles from Acts 9:31, peace, edification, fear of the Lord, or comfort of the Holy Spirit, do I need to grow in the most right now?
• What is one step I can take today to live it out in my own life and help multiply the Church?

When prayer feels like pain

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. ~ Job 16:19

Yesterday we talked about going into your secret place to pray and to meet with God honestly, consistently, and personally. But what do you do when even your prayers feel heavy? When you show up to your quiet place and all you have to offer is pain?

That’s exactly where Job was in chapter 16. He had lost everything, his children, his health, his wealth and now even his friends had turned on him. Instead of offering comfort, they criticized him and questioned his character. Yet, in the middle of all that pain, Job still went to God with all he was going through.

He didn’t hide how he felt. He didn’t pretty up his words. He said, “I have been crushed… My face is red with weeping… Yet my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.” (Job 16:7–19, paraphrased). Job didn’t feel heard or understood by anyone on earth, but he knew God was still listening.

Have you ever been there? You go to pray, but the words don’t come out right. Or they do, but they sound more like complaints than praises. You feel misunderstood, even in prayer. I’ve been there. There were days I sat with tears instead of words, moments when all I could say was, “God, please help me.” And though nothing seemed to change at first, something always did inside me. I was heard. I was held. God was there.  The truth is when you go to God in your pain, you don’t need perfect words for Him to listen. You just need an honest heart.

Here’s how to start:

• Go to your secret place, even if you feel numb or frustrated. You don’t need to “feel spiritual.” You just need to show up.
• Be honest with God. Tell Him how it really is. If you’re tired, say it. If you’re hurting, pour it out. He can handle it.
• Remember who is listening. Job said, “My advocate is on high.” You have someone in heaven, Jesus Himself, who intercedes for you (Romans 8:34).
• End by trusting God to respond, even if you don’t feel anything immediately. Faith isn’t about feelings, it’s about trusting that your Father hears, even in silence.

If all you can do today is groan, then groan. If all you can do is cry, then cry. But don’t stop praying and don’t stop running to God when the pain of life hits. God doesn’t require eloquence or Elizabethan English, He desires closeness. Even Job, in all his sorrow, still found a way to say, “God, You are my witness. You see it all.”

Today, I want to encourage you to bring your pain into your prayer. Don’t run from God in your suffering, run to Him. He sees what others can’t. He understands what others don’t. While friends may misjudge or misunderstand, your Advocate never does. He’s on your side. He’s in your corner and He’s always listening.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 16

1 Then Job spoke again:

2 “I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are!

3 Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking?

4 I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.

5 But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief.

6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself, and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

7 “O God, you have ground me down and devastated my family.

8 As if to prove I have sinned, you’ve reduced me to skin and bones. My gaunt flesh testifies against me.

9 God hates me and angrily tears me apart. He snaps his teeth at me

and pierces me with his eyes.

10 People jeer and laugh at me. They slap my cheek in contempt. A mob gathers against me.

11 God has handed me over to sinners. He has tossed me into the hands of the wicked.

12 “I was living quietly until he shattered me. He took me by the neck and broke me in pieces. Then he set me up as his target,

13 and now his archers surround me. His arrows pierce me without mercy. The ground is wet with my blood.

14 Again and again he smashes against me, charging at me like a warrior.

15 I wear burlap to show my grief. My pride lies in the dust.

16 My eyes are red with weeping; dark shadows circle my eyes.

17 Yet I have done no wrong, and my prayer is pure.

18 “O earth, do not conceal my blood. Let it cry out on my behalf.

19 Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high.

20 My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God.

21 I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.

22 For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return.

Journal:

• What pain or frustration have I been holding back from God?
• What do I need to say to Him today that I’ve been afraid or too tired to say?

Write your prayer honestly and let it come from the heart.

When they just  don’t get it

“What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not in us?” ~ Job 15:9

This chapter in Job is one of those chapters that doesn’t feel encouraging at first glance. Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, responded to Job’s cries with criticism and condemnation. Instead of offering comfort, he accused Job of pride, wickedness, and arrogance. He questioned Job’s wisdom, implying that no one righteous would speak the way Job has. It’s painful to read, especially if you’ve ever been misunderstood in your own season of suffering.

I remember a time in my life when I was walking through a tough season. I struggling to make ends meet and desperate to have a change in my circumstances and everything I leaned on for stability. Emotionally, I was drained. Spiritually, I was clinging to the Lord with what little strength I had left. The people around me didn’t see the internal battle. Instead, they assumed I was making wrong choices or had hidden sin. Like Eliphaz, they tried to “fix” me with sharp words rather than support me with prayer and compassion.

It hurt deeply and yet, I can see now how God used that time, not only to strengthen me, but also to help me recognize that people aren’t always equipped to understand your journey. Job’s experience shows us that even the most well-meaning friends can speak from a place of limited understanding, and their words, though loud, don’t always speak truth.

So, what is the answer?  How do you handle things when your friends and family are coming at you with their answers and judgements?  Here are some things you can do the next time you are struggling and people around you want to tell you what you need to do or why the pain is in your life:

1. Guard your heart when you’re criticized.
   Not all feedback is helpful. Before you accept someone’s opinion as truth, hold it up to what you know about God’s character and His voice in your life. Let scripture be your wisdom when people are sharing theirs.
2. Let God be your defense.
   Job didn’t have to prove his righteousness to his friends, he trusted that God saw the full picture. You don’t need to spend energy trying to convince others of your heart. Keep walking in integrity, and God will take care of your reputation in His time.
3. Choose compassion over accusation.
   When others are suffering, resist the urge to correct or analyze. Be present. Pray. Ask how you can help and truly listen.
4. Know that you’re not alone.
   If you’re in a season where your pain is misunderstood, take heart and remember that Job was there too. God never left him, and He won’t leave you either.
5. Stay grounded in truth.
   Eliphaz questioned Job’s understanding, but Job knew his heart. Keep returning to God’s Word and His promises, especially when the opinions of others are loud.

Start preparing to day by following the suggestions below:

• Spend time in quiet with the Lord each day, even if it’s just 10 minutes. Let Him remind you of who you are and who He is.
• Write down words others have spoken that wounded you, and surrender them in prayer. Ask God to silence anything that doesn’t come from Him.
• If you’re walking with someone who’s hurting, ask them how you can support them this week without offering advice, just your presence.
• Use your pain as a reminder to turn it into praise. God has a plan and a purpose that is good and a future of hope.

Today I want to encourage you that even the most faithful can be misunderstood. But God is never confused. He sees the whole story. He knows your motives, your heartache, and your desires to do what’s right, even when the path is painful. Let His voice be the loudest in your life. When others question your heart, let Him be your peace. In the end, Job’s story wasn’t defined by the accusations, it was defined by God’s faithfulness.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2 “A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag.

3 The wise don’t engage in empty chatter. What good are such words?

4 Have you no fear of God, no reverence for him?

5 Your sins are telling your mouth what to say. Your words are based on clever deception.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I. Your own lips testify against you.

7 “Were you the first person ever born? Were you born before the hills were made?

8 Were you listening at God’s secret council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?

9 What do you know that we don’t? What do you understand that we do not?

10 On our side are aged, gray-haired men much older than your father!

11 “Is God’s comfort too little for you? Is his gentle word not enough?

12 What has taken away your reason? What has weakened your vision,

13 that you turn against God and say all these evil things?

14 Can any mortal be pure? Can anyone born of a woman be just?

15 Look, God does not even trust the angels. Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight.

16 How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person with a thirst for wickedness!

17 “If you will listen, I will show you. I will answer you from my own experience.

18 And it is confirmed by the reports of wise men who have heard the same thing from their fathers—

19 from those to whom the land was given long before any foreigners arrived.

20 “The wicked writhe in pain throughout their lives. Years of trouble are stored up for the ruthless.

21 The sound of terror rings in their ears, and even on good days they fear the attack of the destroyer.

22 They dare not go out into the darkness for fear they will be murdered.

23 They wander around, saying, ‘Where can I find bread?’ They know their day of destruction is near.

24 That dark day terrifies them. They live in distress and anguish, like a king preparing for battle.

25 For they shake their fists at God, defying the Almighty.

26 Holding their strong shields, they defiantly charge against him.

27 “These wicked people are heavy and prosperous; their waists bulge with fat.

28 But their cities will be ruined. They will live in abandoned houses that are ready to tumble down.

29 Their riches will not last, and their wealth will not endure. Their possessions will no longer spread across the horizon.

30 “They will not escape the darkness. The burning sun will wither their shoots, and the breath of God will destroy them.

31 Let them no longer fool themselves by trusting in empty riches, for emptiness will be their only reward.

32 They will be cut down in the prime of life; their branches will never again be green.

33 They will be like a vine whose grapes are harvested too early, like an olive tree that loses its blossoms before the fruit can form.

34 For the godless are barren. Their homes, enriched through bribery, will burn.

35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb produces deceit.”

Journal:

• Has there been a time when someone misunderstood your pain or wrongly judged your actions?
• How did you respond, and what would you want to do differently now, knowing God sees and defends you?