October 17th, 25: Journey Through Job and Acts: God’s Presence in Suffering and the Power of Perspective

Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! In today’s episode, recorded on October 17th, 2025, Hunter—your host and Bible reading coach—guides us through a profound journey in scripture, exploring the beginnings of the book of Job (chapters 1 and 2) and continuing through the impactful story found in Acts chapters 6 and 7.

Hunter opens with a warm greeting and a reminder of God's promise for abundant life through Jesus. Together, we witness Job's world being stripped away and unravelled, yet his unwavering faith becomes a testament to spiritual endurance and the comfort of God's presence, even in silence. In Acts, the story of Stephen unfolds—his faith, wisdom, and courage shine as he faces accusations, delivers a passionate speech recounting Israel's history, and ultimately forgives his persecutors in the midst of suffering.

This episode draws us toward the heart of God, who sits with us in our grief and restores us, embodying co-suffering love through Jesus. Hunter wraps up with prayers for peace, perspective, and thanksgiving, encouraging us to allow God to elevate our perspective and fill us with His joy.

So, settle in as we reflect on endurance, grace, and new perspectives—discovering the reminder that through it all, you are deeply loved.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

He comes to sit with us in our suffering.

As we open the book of Job today, we are invited into the depths of pain, loss, and silent grief. Job, a man of integrity, is plunged into unimaginable suffering as all is taken from him – his family, his wealth, his health. He is undone, stripped bare, descending into a silence that is "too deep for words.” His friends come and sit with him, not offering answers, but sharing in his sorrow, simply being present in his suffering.

Yet the story goes deeper. Job’s pain and silence point beyond his own experience to something profoundly divine. Even though we don’t see it yet in the story, God Himself has come to sit with Job, too. This is the remarkable message of the Bible: that God does not remain distant from our suffering; He draws near. Not as one seeking to offer easy answers or to blame, like Job’s friends, but as One who fully identifies with our pain. In His silence and presence, God sits in the midst of all the suffering and darkness.

Job’s story points us to Jesus, the One who steps into the depths of humanity’s pain. Jesus comes and puts on flesh to sit with us, bearing all our suffering in His own body. He abolishes death, sin, and the grave through His co-suffering love. He restores us, heals us, and renews the very nature of humanity in Himself.

Here in Job’s story, we are given a picture of the God who comes and sits with us, right where we are, just as we are. In Jesus, God enters into the brokenness and offers Himself for us. He does not promise that life will be free from hardship, but He does promise His presence – presence so deep and abiding that even in our silence and sorrow, we are not alone.

May we see in Job the God who draws near in our darkest hours, who sits with us in our pain, and who restores us to life. May we recognize Jesus, who tasted death for all, and offers comfort for every broken heart.

That’s the prayer that I have for my own soul. That’s the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that’s a prayer that I have for you. May it be so.