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User-friendly devotionals with audio

  • 3 Nov

    Learning Endurance from the Story of Job

    A compilation

    Audio length: 15:18
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    Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.—James 5:10–11

    *

    When someone exhibits great endurance through all kinds of trials, annoyances, or provocations, we say that person has “the patience of Job.” The idiom is applied to those who nobly persevere in the face of overwhelming hardships. …

    Job’s patience stands out because Job’s story is extreme in the amount of suffering he endured. Job lost all of his children and his wealth in a single day. He then was covered in painful sores, and his wife offered him no support—she encouraged him to give up, curse God, and die (Job 2:9). When Job’s three friends came to comfort him, they could not even recognize him from a distance (Job 2:12). Adding to Job’s pain, his friends falsely accused him of wrongdoing and blamed his troubles on his unrepentant heart. Through it all, Job patiently endured (Job 2:10). …

    Still today, the patience of Job serves as an inspiration to Christians who face times of struggle and suffering. No matter what happens, we are called to follow Job’s example as we patiently endure in service and worship to the Lord, remembering that our God is “full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11).—Got Questions1

    Hope in the midst of ashes

    Job’s story is perhaps the most striking biblical testimony of faith under fire. Despite losing his children, his wealth, his health, and his standing in the community, Job did not abandon his belief in God. His cry, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15), captures the core of unwavering faith. True faith isn’t built on comfort or circumstances—it’s anchored in a relationship with God that persists even when the world falls apart. This kind of faith doesn’t demand explanations before it trusts.

    In today’s world, where many view belief as conditional on blessings, Job stands out as a model of loyalty. His pain was real, his questions deep, but he still clung to God. … Job teaches that authentic faith may be tested, but it can withstand even the fiercest storms. His example encourages us not to let suffering define our belief, but to let our belief define how we endure suffering. …

    Job’s endurance is legendary. Even when everything around him fell apart—his family, health, fortune, and reputation—he did not rush to quick fixes or false hopes. He endured. This patience wasn’t passive; it was a deliberate choice to wait on God despite pain and confusion. James 5:11 later refers to the “patience of Job” as an example for all believers.

    In our fast-paced world, patience often feels like weakness or indecision. But Job teaches us that real strength is shown in our ability to persevere when answers don’t come quickly and relief is delayed. Patience doesn’t mean ignoring suffering—it means trusting that God is working, even when we cannot see it. …

    Before his suffering, Job was already a righteous man. But through his ordeal, he grew even deeper in wisdom, compassion, and spiritual insight. Trials have a way of refining us, burning away superficial faith and leaving behind something more authentic. … This encourages us to see our own hardships not just as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth. The road may be rough, but it can lead us closer to God and shape us into who we’re meant to be. In suffering, we are invited to maturity, not despair. …

    The Book of Job is not a tidy story. It doesn’t offer neat answers or fairy-tale resolutions. Instead, it invites us into the raw, sacred space where suffering and faith collide. Job’s journey is deeply human—marked by grief, confusion, lament, perseverance, and ultimately, profound transformation. … His story affirms that suffering is not meaningless, that silence can be holy, and that faith is not about formulas—but about relationship. In Job’s ashes, we hear the echo of a deeper wisdom: that real faith doesn’t deny pain, but walks through it with hope.

    May these lessons not just be reflections, but invitations—to live more honestly, love more deeply, and trust more fiercely. When your own life feels like a heap of ruins, remember Job. God is not absent. He is shaping something eternal in you.—Rhodezze2

    *

    Job’s story reminds us that even when we cannot see the full picture, God’s hand is at work, orchestrating events for a greater purpose. This trust in divine sovereignty is not passive resignation but an active faith that God is in control, even in the midst of chaos.—pastors.ai3

    Endurance in times of trouble

    It has been an encouragement to me and millions of people to know that the Bible is full of people who had to fight to overcome difficult experiences and times when they were down in heart and mind. Their circumstances may have been different than ours, but when we study the lives of Job, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Elijah, Peter, and Paul, we see that they went through times of trouble, when their spirits were cast down and they were feeling hopeless.

    When we read about the lives of some of the well-known men and women of faith and determination of our times, we discover that they also battled times of deep sorrow or loss or discouragement and challenging situations. Yet, time and again, in spite of what they went through, they endured and clung to Jesus and He became their strength. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2).

    Everyone faces times of trouble and discouragement in life. So what do we do when we feel like we’ve been hit by a tidal wave of troubles, like Job, or we’ve been broadsided by a truckload of suffering, or we’ve just stumbled and fallen into a bottomless pit of grief or remorse, whatever the cause?

    Jesus understands and empathizes with us and our weaknesses, as He Himself was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). It is not a sin to struggle with sadness, grief, or discouragement (John 11:33). Jesus even endured such torment of spirit in the garden of Gethsemane that He sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44). But He set an example for us, as “for the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

    Jesus ultimately went through the unfathomable despair, the agony of experiencing separation from the Father as He took the punishment for the sins of the world on Himself. The author of Hebrews goes on to tell us to “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:2–3). He fully understands everything we experience, even those deep, dark emotions that this life floods us with during times of trouble. He is always right there to bring us through them.

    This life is our testing ground, our training camp of opportunities for growing in wisdom and strength of character, endurance, spirit, faith, and so much more. The hurdles and mud pits and scaling walls that are placed strategically before us are all part of what He knows will help us to become all we can be. As we place our lives in His hands, and trust in Him, we have the victory that overcomes the world and every time of trouble we face during our journey through life—even our faith (1 John 5:4).—Maria Fontaine

    *

    God knows our trials. They are not without purpose. God allows these challenging seasons to be a process for refining and reshaping our character. Like Job, sometimes we have done nothing to deserve suffering but must endure it anyway. We must continue to worship the Lord despite what we’re going through. We can be assured that He is full of compassion and mercy. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can exhibit perseverance and endurance and imitate the humility of Job under any circumstance. Better times will come—if not soon or if not later on this earth, they will come when we stand before Him and He distributes rewards. God knows. God always remembers. God will reward.—Insight for Living4

    Published on Anchor November 2026. Read by John Laurence. Music by John Listen.

    1 “The patience of Job—why is Job famous for being patient?” gotquestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/patience-of-Job.html

    2 Rhodezze, “Through the Ashes: 20 Profound Moral Lessons from the Book of Job,” Medium, June 4, 2025, https://medium.com/@frhodesse/through-the-ashes-20-profound-moral-lessons-from-the-book-of-job-5fc9d760dd1b

    3 “Steadfast Faith: Lessons from Job's Endurance,” pastors.ai, April 13, 2022, https://pastors.ai/sermon/steadfast-faith-lessons-from-jobs-endurance

  • Nov 2 The Virtue of Patience
  • Oct 29 Relationship with the World
  • Oct 28 When Healing Doesn’t Come
  • Oct 26 Embracing the Journey
  • Oct 22 Serving Others
  • Oct 21 Great Peace
  • Oct 19 More Like Jesus—Part 2
  • Oct 16 In the Hands of a Fiercely Tender God
  • Oct 13 We Can Learn from Mistakes
   

Directors’ Corner

Faith-building Bible studies and articles

  • 9 Jun

    The Life of Discipleship, Part 12: Everyday Discipleship

    Audio length: 22.45

    Download Audio (20.8MB)

    (You may need to right-click the above links and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" to download videos and audios to your computer.)

    Discipleship is a lifelong journey that requires perseverance, determination, conviction, the love of God, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The late Reverend Billy Graham once said, “The Christian’s journey through life isn’t a sprint but a marathon. … Discipleship is the commitment of a lifetime, day by day.” The process of growing in our discipleship and being transformed into Christ’s image is a lifelong task. As one person expressed it:

    We are created as rough drafts that must go through the editing process. God works to transform us step by step into a finished article that will make worthwhile reading. Our substance is reshaped repeatedly by the choices and decisions we make, the superficial and superfluous bits are purged through life’s trials, and we are fine-tuned and polished … in the hands of the Great Editor.—Scott Montrose1

    Our discipleship is meant to encompass every aspect of our lives, including our relationship with God and our daily walk with Him, and our love for others, which includes every person we encounter in our day. Our discipleship includes being an ambassador for Christ, sharing the good news with the people He places in our path, as well as being a living reflection of the love of Christ in every sphere of our lives and striving to grow in His likeness.

    We live our discipleship in our homes, the workplace, in schools, and in the community. We incorporate discipleship principles into our parenting, our relationships, and the investment of our time, skills, and resources. We strive to be a living example of our faith to our families, friends, and neighbors, and the people we interact with throughout our day and in our online communications.

    The call to be a disciple of Jesus is a call to a whole way of life. It’s a call to rearrange our priorities so that God has first place in our lives. This doesn’t mean that we won’t have other priorities in life, but our allegiance is to God first—above our own desires and will, our loved ones, our possessions, and even our own lives. Christian discipleship is not easy to live out—in fact, Jesus said “the way is hard,” but it is the path “that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13–14). It requires commitment, dedication, and placing God at the center of our lives, our decisions, and our relationships.

    In the Gospels, Jesus challenged His followers to lay down their lives for His sake and to follow Him. In Matthew’s Gospel, He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24–25).

    Denying ourselves can be understood to mean setting aside our personal desires, ambitions, and goals, and choosing to seek God for His direction in our lives and pursue His will over our own. This doesn’t mean that the Lord will never lead us to work toward our personal ambitions and goals. If we are seeking God’s will and our desire is to please Him, it’s very likely that His will and our desires will be in alignment (Psalm 37:4). However, if God’s direction doesn’t align with the direction we were leaning toward, as His disciples, we will be willing to “deny ourselves” in order to follow Him.

    Jesus gave us the key to being able to live our commitment to discipleship, starting with our spiritual rebirth through salvation. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

    The ability and grace to live the discipleship life come not only from our desire to obey God’s commandments and our efforts to live in a godly way, but from the power of God through “Christ in us” (Colossians 1:27) and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–17). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

    Christ in Us

    Every new morning we can anticipate that the Lord Jesus Christ will express Himself through us that day and accomplish some aspect of His work, whether we can identify what He has done or not. This is our privilege, and this is our responsibility.

    For Christ to be in us gives us power. We can live effectively in no other strength than that which derives from the life of Jesus Christ, for He said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). And for us to be in Christ gives us purpose. It is not a power that enables us to live for ourselves, but it equips us to fulfill the plans of Christ...

    For Christ to be in us gives us resources. Everything we possibly need is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ. And for us to be in Christ gives us responsibilities. As part of His body, the most important issue I have to face is, “What [does He] want me to do?”

    For Christ to be in us is dynamic. And for us to be in Christ is demanding. If He has something to do, He has the right to use us as the means of doing it. If there is an “Ethiopian eunuch” on the desert road, He has the right to tell you to leave your Samaria and go to meet him (Acts 8:26–40). But for every demand He makes, He provides the dynamic of His Spirit within to accomplish it.

    This is the Christian life. Having faced our failure to express His likeness and image in the world, we come to the Cross for forgiveness, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and become incorporated into Christ, to become vehicles for the expression of His life and purpose. The world desperately needs to know this but will have no grounds on which to believe it until they see the life and character of Jesus Christ lived out in your life and mine. This is God's purpose for you!—Charles Price2

    Joining His Kingdom Mission

    God has invited you to join him in changing the world. God has a dream for this world that Jesus called the kingdom of God. God created you to play an important role in his kingdom vision. You will never find your deepest purpose in life until you find your place in building God’s kingdom.

    You don’t have to be brilliant to change the world—or wealthy or influential or a spiritual giant. But you do have to say yes to the invitation. You do have to be available and willing to be used, and you may have to pay the price that comes with following Jesus, because changing the world and following Jesus isn’t easy, and it doesn’t come cheap. There will be some sacrifice involved—there always is.

    Our Christian faith is not just a way to find forgiveness for sin in order to enter eternal life, yet it is that. It is not just a system of right beliefs about ultimate truth and the order of things, though it is that. Nor is it just a way to find God’s comfort in times of trouble or a helpful code of conduct for how to live a good and productive life, though it is those things too. Fundamentally, the Christian faith is a call to … follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and join in the great mission of Christ in our world. … Only then will we become completed people—people living according to God’s deepest purpose for our lives.—Richard Stearns3

    Conclusion: The Blueprint for Life

    As we have seen throughout this series on discipleship, the Bible teaches us about the relationship God wishes to have with us and how to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Growing in Christlikeness and being transformed into His likeness is the foundation for living a godly and fruitful life in harmony with God and others, which produces the fruit of His Spirit in our lives and those of others (Galatians 5:22–23). It is within the Bible that we learn truths revealed by God that we can pattern our lives after.

    In God’s Word, we find the biblical principles that serve as the compass for our lives and help us to navigate the challenges of everyday life and to be an effective witness for Christ. His Word conveys principles that guide us in our interaction with others and our decision-making, helping us to discern the difference between right and wrong. These spiritual principles set the tone for our moral standard, our ethics, our attitudes about life, love, the world, the environment, and relationships. Though the Bible doesn’t specifically deal with every possible situation that we may face, it does provide the principles needed to navigate the complexities of life in a manner that is pleasing to God.

    His Word teaches us to live out our discipleship by loving and serving others. Our love for Jesus moves us to serve others on His behalf. It motivates us to be His ambassadors in whatever situation we find ourselves. It compels us to assist those in need, and to provide hope and healing to those who have none. We can be His hands to help and touch, His mouth to speak the truth of His Word and give encouragement and hope, His eyes to convey compassion, His feet to walk alongside a weary soul, and His arms to help carry their heavy burden. In so doing, our lives will glorify Him and bless others, as the following articles highlight.

    A Beautiful Life

    When the life of a follower of Jesus is lived as Jesus intended it to be, it becomes a thing of beauty. Being a Christian and having a relationship with God should be something that permeates our daily experiences, is integrated into our decisions, and brings color to our perceptions of ourselves, others, and this life. The countless expressions of God’s love shared with others in the course of a Christian’s life may at times appear to be insignificant in themselves, yet God sees them in the context of the totality of a life that glorifies Him, and He revels in their beauty.

    The more we are determined to strengthen our walk with Jesus, and the more we desire a deeper spiritual connection with Him, the more He will be able to manifest His Spirit through us. We are His handiwork. As we allow Him to blend the hues of His love and mercy and develop the beauty of form that He intended for us, we become His masterpiece that will speak to the hearts of many. Let’s eagerly embrace the priceless gift of His presence in our lives. And as we cultivate the captivating beauty of God’s love in all we do and say, others will be drawn to Him through us.—Maria Fontaine

    Christ’s Fragrance

    The Apostle Paul wrote that the Church is a fragrance of Christ to the world: “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). By this he meant that every believer, and every congregation of believers, establishes a presence of Christ in the world which is palpable to nonbelievers. …

    But what is that fragrance? How should we expect others to experience the presence of Jesus in us? In two ways, primarily: the truth of the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. God's truth speaks to every aspect of human life. By His Word of truth, in the hands of His Spirit, Christ is making all things new in our lives (Revelation 21:5). This means that, in every area of our lives—all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities—Christians exhibit a newness which conforms not to the spirit of the world but to the Holy Spirit of Christ. Our conversation will be different—not filled with carping and complaining, triteness and frivolity, criticism and mean-spiritedness; instead, our words will always be gracious and edifying, respectful of the people with whom we converse (Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29).

    So also with the ways we do our work, raise our children, participate in the culture of our day, and conduct ourselves with dignity and grace. We are new creatures in Jesus Christ, and, therefore, in many ways, out of step with the surrounding culture. But by living the truth in every aspect of our lives we shine the light of Jesus and exude the fragrance of His worldview into every nook and cranny of our lives.

    Believers need to work hard at being the fragrance of Jesus. By steeping ourselves in God's Word and living in an attitude of prayer … we can begin to waft the fragrant smell of King Jesus into more of the everyday aspects and areas of our lives. Let us resolve to be that fragrance of truth and love, and we will find that the wind of God's Spirit will accompany us everywhere we go, sending the aroma of Jesus to all and everyone, as well as to God.—T. M. Moore4

    Jesus has entrusted us with the responsibility of passing on His personal, unconditional, all-encompassing love to our fellow men and women, to those who share the planet with us today. The commission He has given to His disciples is to take the gospel to all the world. Wherever the Lord has called you to is your mission field, and you are called to serve and reach the people He places in your path. Every one of us has some opportunity, some network, some realm in which we can be sharing His love and truth with others, strengthening people’s faith, hope, and hearts.

    May the Lord bless your discipleship and service to Him and witness to others so that you can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world He has called us to be (Matthew 5:13–14). Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). In so doing, we will be living a life of discipleship that glorifies God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

    Thoughts to Ponder

    Discipleship isn’t a program or an event; it’s a way of life. It’s not for a limited time, but for our whole life. Discipleship … is for all believers for every day of their life.—Bill Hull

    Every believer who takes seriously their vocation as a disciple of Jesus will see themselves as a “sent one” wherever they find themselves, and will look to be mobilized into action in that place. This could take the form of being a “good witness” at work or a good neighbor to those who live nearby, or it could involve volunteering.—Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch

    Don’t allow the words of Jesus to only stay printed in your Bible. Give them wings, springing them into action. There are souls in your life who need your nurture. Consider how you might show concern for their welfare, loving and caring for them the way you already love and care for yourself. When you do, you’ll be completing the chain of love that began when God first loved you.—Karen Ehman

    What the Bible Says

    “Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:4–5; John 15:8 NKJV).

    “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7).

    “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 1:20–21 NIV).

    A Prayer for Everyday Discipleship

    Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me, calling me, and giving me purpose. You are so good, and your grace is sufficient for me. I ask that you cleanse my heart from sin and clear my mind of the distractions that attempt to draw me away from fellowship with you today. Help me abide in Christ, to learn from Him and lean on Him, so I can live for Him and lead others to Him. You are worthy of all of my devotion and praise. Make me a faithful and fruitful disciple who brings you glory every day. In the mighty and matchless name of Christ, my King, I pray, Amen.5

    1 Scott Montrose, “Life’s Editing,” Activated, January 2021, https://activated.org/en/life/the-whole-you/personal-growth/lifes-editing/

    2 Charles Price, Christ for Real: How to Grow into Christ’s Likeness (Kregel Publications, 2011).

    3 Richard Stearns, Unfinished: Believing Is Only the Beginning (Thomas Nelson, 2013).

    4 T. M. Moore, “The Fragrance of Truth and Love,” January 29, 2010.

    5 Annie McGuire, “What is a disciple of Christ?” Daily His Disciple, January 11, 2022, https://dailyhisdisciple.com/2022/01/11/what-is-a-disciple-of-christ/.

     

  • May 19 The Life of Discipleship, Part 11: Sharing Our Resources
  • Apr 28 The Life of Discipleship, Part 10: Our Work Life
  • Mar 17 The Life of Discipleship, Part 9: Discipling Others
  • Mar 3 1 Corinthians: Chapter 15 (verses 37–58)
  • Feb 17 The Life of Discipleship, Part 8: Sharing Our Faith
  • Feb 3 1 Corinthians: Chapter 15 (verses 20–36)
  • Jan 20 The Life of Discipleship, Part 7: Serving God by Serving Others
  • Dec 16 1 Corinthians: Chapter 15 (verses 1–19)
  • Dec 2 The Life of Discipleship, Part 6: Love for Others
   

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  • The primary goal of the Family International is to improve the quality of life of others by sharing the life-giving message of love, hope, and salvation found in God’s Word. We believe that God's love—applied on a practical level to our daily lives—is the key to resolving many of society's problems, even in the complex and fast-paced world of today. Through imparting the hope and guidance found in the Bible’s teachings, we believe that we can work toward building a better world—changing the world, one heart at a time.

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    We desire to know and understand the truth of God’s Word, the essence of His divine nature. We value the foundational principles of the written Word, hearing from God, and following His guidance.

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1 and 2 Thessalonians
A study of Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians and how these teachings apply today.
The Heart of It All: Foundations of Christian Theology
A book compiled from a series of articles covering the basics of Christian doctrine.
Living Christianity
Applying the teachings of the Bible to our daily lives and decisions.