july 24th, 25: Enduring Hard Times With Hope: Lessons from Isaiah, Psalms, and Peter

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One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you.

TODAY'S EPISODE:

Welcome to another episode of the Daily Radio Bible! Today, Hunter, your host and Bible reading coach, invites you to join him as we journey through some powerful passages: Isaiah chapters 36 and 37, Psalm 76, and 1 Peter chapter 1. In this episode, we’ll encounter the dramatic story of King Hezekiah’s faith in the face of overwhelming odds, discover the assurance and majesty of God celebrated in the Psalms, and be encouraged by Peter’s message of hope amid trials. Whether you’re facing your own challenges or simply seeking a moment of peace and inspiration, Hunter reminds us that while trials are a part of life, God’s strength, joy, and love are always available—waiting to help us flourish. So grab your Bible, settle in, and let’s be renewed by the living Word together.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

There are trials ahead, but there is strength for the trial—and joy beyond that. First Peter 1:6 says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” Trials are certain. And sometimes the “little while” doesn’t seem that little, does it? We all go through trials. No one is exempt. We all face hard times—really hard times. We’ve all gone through a pandemic, for crying out loud. And yet our hope lies in the promise of hope and even joy beyond that.

Unfortunately for many of us, the trials of this life can lead to despair and defeat. The walls of our souls begin to crumble under the weight. Hezekiah was tempted to crumble in fear and defeat. He could see the circumstances and the outcomes of all those other kingdoms that had crumbled when facing the overwhelming terror of the Assyrian king and his armies. But instead of crumbling, Hezekiah turned to God. He didn’t go to Egypt for help, he didn’t try to manipulate his way out by surrendering or offering some tribute, and he didn’t give in to despair. No—instead, he trusted God. And God gave him the victory.

But that victory took some time. Isaiah told him that it would take three years, but to hold on, because there would be joy ahead. He let him know that the first year would be hard, very lean—the people would eat only what grows up by itself. The second year, it would be a little easier—they would eat what sprang up from the first growth. But in the third year, they would see a breakthrough. In that third year, they would plant crops and harvest them. They would tend vineyards and eat their fruit. Those who escaped the ravages of the siege, who endured the hard times and had gone through the trials, would put roots down in their own soil. They would grow and flourish.

There it is. We’re all going to go through hard times, but there’s strength available in the trials, and beyond that, there’s joy. It may take some time—it may take a season or several seasons—but if we lay out our hearts before God and trust him, we can find the strength we need. If we believe him that these trials are for a season, then we can also find joy. Our roots will grow down into the soil of his faithfulness, and we will flourish.

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

TODAY'S PRAYERS:

Gracious and everlasting God, you have brought us through the shadow of night into the promise of a new day.
You go before us with your mercy, sustain us by your grace and keep us from wandering paths of fear or pride. Let every word we speak and every step we take